I recently listened to an endurance running trainer say, “there is no change without the challenge”. She was referring to the point that sometimes people want different results (change) but aren’t willing to go through the challenge to get there. I had time to contemplate that idea, which I personally agree with when it comes to day-to-day life professionally or personally. One of my favorite leadership lessons to teach over the past 25 years is “Your Comfort Zone = Your Success Zone”.

But during my contemplation I asked myself, “how does that teaching line up with the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ?” The gospel says that the instant I believe in my heart and confess with my words that Jesus Christ is my all sufficient, I will have salvation. There is no challenge. There is no “breakthrough to overcome”. Because Jesus Himself overcame. So the gift of salvation is free. It costs me nothing. No money, no works, no action, no challenge. Just believe in my heart and confess with my words. That’s it.

As I contemplated this, I became somewhat sad because it made me think that maybe the idea of “Comfort Zone = Success Zone” is not valid. Yet, when I look around at the amazing co-workers at Pizza Ranch, or professional athletes, or restaurant managers, or anybody who has had a professional breakthrough or advancement…it is not usually based on luck or faith in oneself alone. It is based on getting out of the comfort zone, taking a risk, committing to hard work and perseverance, and then at some point it takes time.

Then I thought, “well, the Bible says God created everything. So did God create “”challenges””, that we can grow from?” I believe in one sense the answer is “no”. James chapter 1 says “God does not tempt anyone”. But is tempt the same as challenge? The Bible has a lot of examples of people who, through challenge and perseverance did many amazing things. Yet, saving grace is given to us freely. At times like this I start to get confused. Have you ever felt that way before?

When this happens, I read more scripture and remind myself of who I am and who God is. The Bible says:
1.    Job 38:31-32 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?” (of course, the answer is no we cannot do any of that. But the POINT is that God can)
2.    Romans 11:33-36 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgements, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”