Are You Obedient to the Lord or Yourself?

• By candidasullivan
• November 6, 2025
• No Comments

When I think about all the things God has wanted me to do—and what I’ve actually done—it breaks my heart. God has big, limitless visions for my life, but I often hold on to small, safe dreams. Ironically, I fight to keep my own limitations and hardships.

Even when God tells me about the great plans He has for me, I still struggle to do what He asks. The moment He gives me even a small detail of the plan, my mind fills with excuses and doubts about why I can’t do it.

Let me say, I don’t mean to do this. But the enemy meets me in my fears and magnifies them. He tells me how hard it will be, how much I’ll struggle, and how unqualified I am. His whispers grow louder until I start to believe them. By the time he’s finished, I’m convinced I can’t do what God has called me to do.

Amid the fear and doubt, quitting often feels like the only option—until I remember who my God is. My God is a God of miracles and abundant blessings. If I could do it in my own strength, it wouldn’t be from God. We need Him to complete His assignments.

When God puts something big on our hearts, it tests our faith, strength, courage, and obedience.

Look at Moses as he led the children of Israel through the wilderness. God didn’t just give him a map and tell him to figure it out. He was with him through it all—guiding and protecting him every step of the way.

Daniel is another example. His obedience to God put him in the lion’s den. But God was with him there, too. God shut the lion’s mouth so it couldn’t harm Daniel.

When we’re obedient to God, it may cause pain. Sometimes it’s hard to keep going because our flesh is weak—it craves comfort more than calling. But to do what God wants, we must overcome the flesh through prayer. When we pray, we invite God into the struggle, and we are no longer alone.

God can put the enemy in his place. He can overcome any obstacle that comes our way. So, it’s not that we can’t do it—it’s that sometimes we don’t want to. We let fear and excuses take over.

2 Corinthians 2:8–9 (KJV)
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

We can proclaim how much we love God, but how often do we prove it? How often do we put our comfort aside and follow Him?

If we truly want to do what God calls us to do, He will show us the way and give us the strength to do it. Otherwise, we’ll stumble in our excuses until the end.

One of my greatest fears is reaching the end of my life filled with regret for the things I didn’t do with God. I can’t bear that thought. So I’m choosing to struggle now—so I won’t regret later.

What about you? Is there something God is calling you to do?