At first, I wanted to keep it more concise. But, reviewing the post “Struggle of Obedience,”. I felt it is appropriate to expand more on the obstacles to obedience. Hence, I will briefly touch on all the elements in the list “Obstacles to Obedience”.
Fear of Rejection
Have you ever hesitated to do what you knew was right because you were afraid of what others think? Fear of rejection can paralyze us, making us favor the approval of people over the approval of God. This fear stems from a deep-seated desire to belong and be accepted. It whispers doubts like, “What if they don’t like me anymore?” or “What if they make fun of me?” For example, a young person may hesitate to share their faith with friends for fear of being ridiculed. Just like Peter, who denied knowing Jesus in fear of persecution.(Matthew 26:69-70. This same fear can make us compromise our values. It leads us to disobey God’s call to be a witness. Ultimately, overcoming this fear requires trusting that God’s love and acceptance are far more valuable than any human approval.
Lack of Trust
All relationships depend on trust, including our relationship with God. When we do not have trust in God, we will find it very challenging to obey Him. When we lack trust in God, we struggle to obey Him. This lack of trust often arises from a limited perspective. It is rooted in our lack of understanding or not knowing. We question His motives or doubt His promises, especially when things are difficult. For instance, if we pray for healing and don’t see immediate results, we begin to doubt God’s goodness. We question His will heal. This doubt can hinder our obedience, as we hesitate to follow a God we don’t fully trust. True obedience requires a leap of faith, trusting that God knows what’s best, even when we don’t understand.
Lack of Understanding
We often find it hard to follow God’s words. This happens because we may not fully understand them. Sometimes, we misinterpret their meaning. This struggle is common on our spiritual journey, especially when we feel lost and lack clarity.
In Exodus 16, the Israelites complained while wandering in the wilderness. They couldn’t see that their struggles were meant to shape them for the Promised Land. In the same way, we often question why we should forgive those who’ve hurt us. We also wonder why we should give generously when we are facing financial difficulties. Instead of focusing on God’s guidance, we often dwell on our pain. Let’s remember that even in our hardships, there is a purpose that can lead us to greater blessings.
Let’s stop here to keep the reading short. We will talk about the remaining elements in the next post. I appreciate you visiting me and sharing your thoughts and suggestions. The communication encourages me to keep going.
See you in a few days.
