Obedience Feels Different Than Feelings

Do you know that obedience feels very different than feelings?

This is something the Lord has been reminding me of again and again. We live in a culture that encourages us to follow our feelings. We are taught that if something feels good, it must be right, and if it feels hard, uncomfortable, or uncertain, it must be wrong. But Scripture teaches us something very different.

Just because something feels hard does not mean it is wrong.

Feelings are powerful, but they are also unpredictable. One moment they feel strong and certain, and the next moment they are unsure, fearful, or exhausted. Feelings shift with circumstances, conversations, fatigue, and even our environment. That is why feelings alone cannot be trusted to lead our lives.

Obedience feels different.

Obedience does not always feel good. It does not always bring immediate comfort. Sometimes it does not even make sense in the moment. Obedience often asks us to move forward before we feel ready, to say yes when our emotions want to say no, and to trust God when the path feels unfamiliar or slow.

What obedience does bring is clarity. Not always clarity about the entire journey, but clarity about the next step. Obedience does not argue with God. It does not negotiate terms or demand explanations before moving forward. Obedience trusts that God sees what we cannot see.

I have learned that obedience often stretches us in places we would rather protect. It costs something. Sometimes it costs comfort. Sometimes it costs control. Sometimes it costs approval from others. But those moments of obedience are often the very moments God uses to grow us the most.

There have been times when the hardest decision was also the most formative. In those moments, everything in me wanted relief, not growth. I wanted reassurance, not surrender. But God was inviting me to trust Him at a deeper level, not based on how I felt, but based on who He is.

Scripture reminds us of this truth so clearly. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5 and 6.

Notice that trust comes before direction. Obedience comes before clarity. God often asks us to take the step before He shows us the full picture.

Staying the course is not always easy. Obedience can feel lonely. It can feel slow. It can feel uncomfortable. But God honors obedience, especially when it costs you something. Especially when no one else sees it. Especially when your feelings are telling you to turn back.

If you are walking through a season where obedience feels heavy, I want to encourage you. You are not doing it wrong. You are being shaped. God is working in ways you may not recognize yet.

Stay the course. Keep trusting. Keep obeying. Feelings may change, but God does not. And obedience, even when it feels hard, always leads to His purpose.

Be blessed and have a great day.