Trusting the Path of Obedience

Trusting the path of Obedience

I believe the word "obedience" carries a significant stigma.

What was once viewed as a beautiful picture of following guidance for protection has become associated with being taken advantage of for someone else’s gain.

Please hear me out: while obedience can sometimes lead to pain, it was never intended to be that way.

The truth is, we are broken beings who have distorted what was once good and just, twisting it into the notion that one should never be obedient because of how it is perceived. However, to walk in obedience with righteousness is far more freeing than what society portrays.

Let’s explore this together.

As women, we are often told we "need to stick to our own truth." If we obey our husbands, we are accused of enabling their advantage. Yet, if we truly want to care for ourselves, should we not live by our own standards?

As men, you are encouraged to take ownership of those around you, declaring yourselves as the Alpha—believing the only obedience you should have is that of others serving you.

Neither of these narratives is true or liberating. They may seem to offer freedom and clout, but ultimately, they lead to hardship, disappointment, and isolation.

At the beginning of 2019, God placed the word “obedience” on my heart for me to explore that entire year. I initially found it odd, but I went along with it. Soon enough, I understood why this word was significant.

I learned that obedience is not a form of punishment, but a command intended for my protection, His glory, and my own well-being.

Back then, I lacked faithfulness in the idea of stewardship.

Charles Bugg defines “stewardship” in the Holman Bible Dictionary as "utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation."

I realized I wasn’t stewarding my time, finances, or marriage well. I had yet to grasp how obedience and stewardship could create a beautiful marriage—and positively impact every other area of my life—glorifying God in the process. Thankfully, in the seasons leading up to 2019, I encountered God’s grace through my husband. Even when I failed to steward his heart well, he remained faithful and obedient in every other aspect for us. Where I fell short, he stepped up. Seriously, thank you, Lord, for this man!

I gradually leaned more into God’s presence and His word, attempting to rewire my understanding of obedience. I learned that obedience is not a form of punishment, but a command intended for my protection, His glory, and my own well-being.

Obedience became a verb: a way to express my love for God. If I truly loved Him, wouldn’t I want to follow what He asks of me? Surely He his ways were far more greater for me, than what I had planned for myself.

As I grow to learn more about His character and love for me, my love for Him deepens. Naturally, wouldn’t my act of obedience grow, too?

It should. And it did.

John 14:15 ESV states, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Keeping the commandments—primarily to love God and love people—is an act of obedience.

Jesus demonstrated the ultimate act of obedience at the Cross:

“And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” - Philippians 2:8 ESV

Can you imagine if Jesus hadn’t been obedient to His calling? He was faithful, perfect, and that barely scratches the surface of who He is and what He did for us.

As I began to embrace obedience by becoming a good steward of our finances, our marriage, and my time with God, I began to see good fruit emerge. Obedience was not the burden I once thought it to be; instead, it was the open door to a loving and flourishing marriage. It paved the way for financial freedom and hope for the future, transforming me from an angry, anxious mom into one filled with grace and humility.

Friend, you can experience the same good fruit in your life by walking faithfully in obedience. Whether in your finances, marriage, career, or hobbies, being obedient to the calling He has placed on your life can yield incredible results, even if you can’t immediately see them. Even when the next step seems unclear and you’re unsure where to go, practice obedience by seeking the Father daily for guidance on what’s next for you.

James 1:5 ESV reminds us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

Ask God today for wisdom so that you may know how to walk faithfully in obedience, free from the stigma that can surround it.