Answering the Call: The Journey Out of My Comfort Zone

By Michelle R. Green

Is your comfort zone really comfortable? Do you sense God calling you to more but feel like you’re in this alone? Are you a pastor’s wife or First Lady with no spiritual mother or mentor?

Are you struggling with church hurt? Have you been overlooked? Are your prayers on life support?

The journey out of your comfort zone is not for the weak or timid!

So many people sense the call of God upon their lives but hesitate to answer for various reasons. Whether you are a pastor, First Lady, or a professing believer, Michelle Green shares some of her personal experiences, wisdom, and insight into overcoming obstacles you may encounter on the journey to your purpose. God works outside of your comfort zone! Are you ready to step out of yours?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9798885401708

Book preview

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Answering the Call

The Journey Out of My Comfort Zone

Michelle R. Green

Copyright © 2022 by Michelle R. Green

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

My Journey Begins

First Lady?

Made New

Mothers, Mentors, Wise, and Foolish Women

Finding the Secret Place

A Prayer Life on Life Support

The Power of Forgiveness

No Pain Without Purpose

Things Are Not Always As They Appear

People Pleaser or God Chaser?

Finding the No-Fear Zone

The God Who Sees You

Intimidation

Pushback

Your Real Enemy

Watch Your Step!

Pursue Peace

Your Spiritual Container

The Comparison Trap

Helping Someone Else

Acknowledgments

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, thank you for being my solid rock, my love, peace, strength, joy, and comforter, and for giving me the courage to share some of my journey with those who will read this book.

To the love of my life, my husband, Apostle Wayne A. Green, I thank God for your strength, patience, prayers, encouragement, and guidance as we walk through our lives together! Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me to finish this book, and allowing me to vent!

To Michael Green, Christopher Green, and Courtney Green Bivens, I love you all dearly and am blessed that God chose me to be your mom!

The late Apostle Ralph E. Green and Dr. Shirley M. Green, who deposited so much wisdom and stretched me beyond what I thought was possible! Thank you!

My mom and forever first lady, Betty Jackson (Nana), for the nuggets of wisdom and experience. You are a living example of faith and strength. Your words echo in my heart and spirit daily. I love you!

Special thanks to my AOLCWC family for your love, prayers, and support and for encouraging me to finish this book! Keep pressing forward!

Introduction

Writing a book is a form of worship! Worship is defined as a feeling or expression of reverence and adoration of a deity. (I’m writing about God!) The Bible declares, God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

True worship must be in spirit, with passion that flows from the whole heart rather than just going through the motions.

Truth is defined as a verified or indisputable fact.

To be honest, truth is complicated. There’s your truth based on the things you have experienced that through your unique circumstances have shaped your reality, and there is God’s truth—what the Word of God says about who you are and what you can become in Him through the application of the scriptures.

Step so far out of your comfort zone that you forget how to get back (anonymous).

A comfort zone is defined by Merriam-Webster as the level at which one functions with ease and familiarity.

A journey is the occasion of traveling from one place to another: the process of changing and developing over time.

As I progress through my journey as a born-again woman of God, there were times that I felt like a needed a book, a manual, something I could refer to when I felt like I needed encouragement, instruction, insight, or strength. Yes, the Bible is full of wisdom, instruction, and encouragement, but often I felt like there was not anything specific to what I was experiencing as it relates to being a pastor’s wife or First Lady. I casually knew other pastors’ wives, but it seemed like my situation was different. I realize that I am not the only one who has experienced challenges, but I would like to share portions of my walk with God, hoping that it will encourage and strengthen someone who feels like he/she needs a little push to navigate the difficult places and pain that often comes with growing spiritually. Do not expect everyone to understand your journey! Everyone’s path is different. Your path may appear to be dirt and rocks, and someone else’s might appear to be paved and landscaped. We all are on a journey to our preordained purpose in God’s plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11–13 says,

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Life lessons are