What to Do When God’s Call Feels Uncomfortable
Have you ever felt God prompting you to do something, but your heart hesitated? Maybe it was a nudge to serve someone in need, step out of your comfort zone, or prioritize time with Him amidst your busy life. If you’re anything like me, you know the tug-of-war between obedience and reluctance all too well.
Let me be honest—I’ve become something of an expert in reluctant obedience. I hear God’s call, feel the conviction, and often find myself responding with, “Are You sure, Lord?” or “Can I get to that later?” But through time, grace, and a lot of surrender, I’ve learned that obedience—even when reluctant—is always worth it.
Here’s the beautiful thing about God: He doesn’t expect perfection. He simply asks us to show up, take the next step, and trust Him. And He provides tools to help us grow in faith and obedience. Today, I want to share practices that have helped me move from reluctant obedience to joyful surrender.
1. Bible Study: Hearing God’s Voice
Spending time in God’s Word helps us recognize His voice and understand His heart. When I immerse myself in Scripture, obedience feels less like a burden and more like a natural response to His love.
Tip: Start small. Focus on one passage or chapter, and ask, “What is God teaching me here?”
2. Prayer: Bringing Your Hesitation to God
Reluctance often stems from fear, doubt, or uncertainty. Prayer is where we bring those feelings to God and ask for His strength to step forward. He doesn’t shame our hesitation—He meets us with grace and guidance.
Practical Step: Pray, “Lord, help my heart align with Your will, even when it feels hard.”
3. Worship: Shifting Your Focus
Worship has a way of taking our eyes off ourselves and placing them on God. When we’re reluctant to obey, worship reminds us of who He is—faithful, trustworthy, and good.
Idea: Create a worship playlist for those moments when you need a heart reset.
4. Fasting: Surrendering Control
Fasting teaches us to rely on God instead of ourselves. Whether it’s fasting from food, social media, or another distraction, this practice helps us hear Him more clearly and surrender our reluctance.
Encouragement: Use fasting as an opportunity to ask God to strengthen your obedience.
5. Giving: Trusting God with Your Resources
Reluctance often shows up in giving—of our time, energy, or finances. But giving reminds us that everything we have belongs to God, and He can do more with our obedience than we can imagine.
Challenge: Give intentionally this week, even if it stretches you. Watch how God provides.
6. Confession: Releasing Your Hesitation
Sometimes, we need to confess our reluctance to God and others. Admitting our struggles brings freedom and allows God to work in our hearts.
Reflection: Ask, “What’s holding me back from obeying fully?” Surrender it to God in prayer.
7. Serving Others: Obedience in Action
Serving is one of the most tangible ways to practice obedience. It doesn’t have to be grand—small acts of kindness often have the biggest impact.
Action Step: Look for a simple way to serve someone today, whether it’s through a kind word, a meal, or lending a hand.
8. Gratitude: Remembering What God Has Done
When I pause to reflect on God’s past faithfulness, it gives me courage to trust Him in the present. Gratitude transforms reluctance into trust.
Practice: Keep a journal of God’s faithfulness. When obedience feels hard, revisit it for encouragement.
9. Fellowship: Finding Strength in Community
God never intended us to walk this journey alone. Surrounding ourselves with other believers encourages us to obey, even when it feels daunting.
Reminder: Share your struggles and victories with trusted friends—they’ll cheer you on and pray for you.
10. Sabbath Rest: Trusting God with Your Time
In a world that glorifies busyness, taking a Sabbath feels countercultural—and sometimes uncomfortable. But rest is a form of obedience that reminds us God is in control, not us.
Start Small: Set aside one hour this week for uninterrupted rest and worship.
11. Creating Margin: Making Room for Obedience
Our reluctance often stems from being stretched too thin. When we create margin in our schedules and hearts, we leave room to hear God’s voice and respond.
Practical Idea: Evaluate your week and identify one thing you can say “no” to in order to say “yes” to God.
Moving Forward in Obedience
If you find yourself in a season of reluctant obedience, know that you’re not alone—and that God isn’t finished with you yet. Every small step of obedience, even when hesitant, is a step toward deeper faith and trust in Him.
Let’s lean into these practices together, trusting that God is faithful to meet us where we are and equip us for what He’s called us to do.
With love and a whole lot of grace,
Julie
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