My word for 2025 is "Radical Obedience" and as I shared in my post Joy in the Pause, God gave me the opportunity to choose Radical Obedience, at the beginning of this year—and I’ve been choosing to walk it out, one step at a time.

Radical obedience isn’t glamorous. It’s quiet, very often misunderstood, and almost always requires surrendering the outcomes we long to control. In a culture that celebrates results, ROI, and hustle, choosing obedience for obedience’s sake is a deeply countercultural act of faith.

What if God is more concerned with our surrender than our success?

As a naturally driven woman, I often find myself tempted to move ahead and do for the Lord—before fully listening for His leading. However, I am reminded of King Saul when God told him to completely destroy the Amalekites, including all their people, livestock, and possessions. This was not a random command—God was bringing judgment on the Amalekites for their earlier attack on Israel during their exodus from Egypt (Exodus 17:8–16).

But instead of full obedience, Saul partially obeyed. He spared King Agag and kept the best sheep and cattle, claiming he intended to use them as sacrifices to the Lord.

Saul tried to spiritualize his disobedience.

When Samuel confronted him, Saul insisted he had obeyed. But Samuel, led by God, saw the truth. That’s when he delivered this piercing word:

1 Samuel 15:22 (NLT)
“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

This verse captures the essence of Radical Obedience:

God values our Listening and Obedience

more than flashy acts of service or performance.

I want to share vulnerably with you; this pause I am currently in doesn't come without lots of questions for God:

• "Why did you ask me to get my coaching certification, if I can't use it?"
• "Won't my previous MBSR™ clients lose interest and move on? "
• "How long are you going to make me pause before I can move into coaching?"
• "Have you really called me to coaching, or did I miss the mark?"
• "How am I supposed to build a coaching program while working a full time job that is required to financially contribute to our family's income?"

Friend, I have lots of questions and the beautiful thing about that is God isn't afraid of my questions (or yours!). He is teaching me obedience even when it doesn't make sense.

Luke 5:5 (ESV)
“But at Your word I will let down the nets.”

Peter obeyed even when it made no logical sense—

and that is the posture of Radical Obedience.

Simple. Immediate. Trusting.

One of the biggest lessons I’m learning is that Radical Obedience often means walking without fully understanding the “why.” My father raised me to question everything, which means I'm constantly questioning things so I can have a better understanding. As a child, I learned to ask God for wisdom, but I always asked Him for equal parts understanding because,

Wisdom without understanding is like
holding a map without knowing how to read it
—truth without direction,
clarity without the steps to carry it out.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

Radical obedience often means
not understanding the full picture
—yet choosing to follow anyway.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
“Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Even when you don’t see results—your faithfulness is never wasted. Luke 16:10 (NLT) says, "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities."

Before we close, let’s take a quick look at how faithfulness and obedience work together.

Understanding the difference and connection between these two words helps us grasp the depth of what God calls us to.

While faithfulness anchors us in belief,
Obedience moves us into action.
One without the other is incomplete.
Together, they reflect a life fully yielded to God.

So what does it mean to live with Radical Obedience? It means choosing to trust God so fully that we not only believe His Word—we act on it. At its core, faithfulness is the posture of the heart, and obedience is the movement of the feet. Faithfulness declares, “God is who He says He is.” Obedience responds, “So I’ll follow where He leads.”

As Romans 1:5 reminds us, there is an obedience that flows from faith—not from striving, not from fear, but from deep, unwavering trust.

May we be found faithful... and may our obedience tell the story.

Reflection Questions For You To Ponder:

• Am I more focused on what I can produce than how I’m obeying?

• Have I delayed obedience because I’m waiting to understand the outcome?

• What is God asking me to obey in this season—even if I never see the results?

Prayer:
"Lord, teach me to love Your voice more than the applause of man. Give me the courage to obey You even when it costs me something, even when I don’t know where it leads. May I be known in Heaven as someone who walked in Radical Obedience—just because You are worthy. Amen."

Friend, I pray this post encourages your heart and gives you permission to walk with God even in the not-knowing. I’d love to hear what Radical Obedience looks like in your life—drop a comment below and let’s encourage one another in the journey.

With Love,