As I was preparing for a Spartan obstacle race in Pennsylvania, I realized that I was not physically where I needed to be with just a few short weeks to go before race day. Having competed in this event before, I was aware of the level of suffering that I was likely to experience if I didn’t get my act together. But I was stuck in my comfort zone.

Dedication and discipline are two things that generally separate the winners from the quitters. Quitters don’t work, they whine. Winners work. Work is never dependent on how you feel. In fact, we will all have plenty of days that we don’t feel like showing up and putting in the work.

Nehemiah is the epitome of what it looks like to go beyond his comfort zone and work wholeheartedly for a cause that honors and glorifies God. God plants a vision in us and gives us the passion to go for it. God does more than we can ever ask or imagine as we surrender to His plan and put our hand to the plow! God’s people completed the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem in an astonishing 52 days. They were determined and disciplined and refused to be distracted or discouraged.

So, what do you say? Let’s pursue God-sized goals and go beyond our comfort zones.