At the beginning of 2025, I made a simple but costly decision:
I told God yes.
Not a vague yes.
Not a conditional yes.
But a surrendered, open-handed yes—
to walk through whatever doors He chose to open,
even if I didn’t know where they would lead.
“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.”
— Proverbs 3:5–6
I didn’t realize at the time that this yes would become the hinge on which the entire year would turn.
Obedience Opened the First Door
The first door was my testimony being shared on God’s Goodness Podcast. It felt vulnerable, laying my story out in the open but obedience often does. I wasn’t trying to platform myself; I was responding to a nudge. That single act of obedience set off a chain reaction I could never have orchestrated.
“Declare His glory among the nations,
His marvelous works among all the peoples.”
— Psalm 96:3
I didn’t know it then, but that yes positioned me for deeper encounters.
Obedience Led Me Up the Mountain
Not long after, I experienced what I can only describe as a Mount-Sinai-style encounter with God. It wasn’t about spectacle, it was about presence. God met me in a way that marked me, recalibrated me, and clarified that this journey wasn’t about productivity, but intimacy.
“The Lord would speak to Moses face to face,
as one speaks to a friend.”
— Exodus 33:11
Obedience drew me closer—not just to His plans, but to His heart.
Obedience Refined Me in Hidden Places
There were seasons that followed where obedience didn’t look public at all. I said yes to practices that stretched me, including a period of intentional head covering—a time marked by humility, listening, and learning. I said yes to a social media sabbatical, choosing silence over visibility.
These weren’t flashy obediences. They were refining ones.
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10
In the quiet, God was doing work I couldn’t see yet.
Obedience Birthed What I Didn’t Know Was Ready
From that place of surrender came the writing—and then the publishing—of my book. I didn’t force it into existence. I didn’t chase timing. I simply obeyed the call to write, trusting that if God wanted it released, He would open the door.
And He did.
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets,
so he may run who reads it.”
— Habakkuk 2:2
That obedience didn’t just produce a book—it marked the breaking of generational cycles. I watched patterns that had followed my family for years lose their grip. Obedience didn’t just bless me; it reached backward and forward at the same time.
“The Lord will fight for you;
you need only to be still.”
— Exodus 14:14
Obedience Expanded the Assignment
Then came invitations I never pursued: guest speaking at a conference, appearing on other podcasts, sharing what God had done—not because I asked for a platform, but because obedience had positioned me where others could see His faithfulness.
“For promotion comes neither from the east nor from the west…
but God is the Judge: He puts down one,
and exalts another.”
— Psalm 75:6–7
Even serving behind the scenes—finding my groove as a sound tech at church—became an act of obedience. God showed me that blessing isn’t always in being seen; sometimes it’s in being faithful.
“Whoever can be trusted with very little
can also be trusted with much.”
— Luke 16:10
What I’ve Learned
This year taught me that obedience is not about earning blessing—it’s about alignment. When I obeyed, I didn’t lose myself; I found where I belonged. I learned that delayed obedience really does delay fruit, and partial obedience limits what God wants to release.
But wholehearted obedience?
That unlocks doors only God can open.
“If you are willing and obedient,
you shall eat the good of the land.”
— Isaiah 1:19
I didn’t know in January what saying yes would cost—or what it would bring. I only knew that I was done negotiating with God.
And looking back now, I can say this with confidence:
Every blessing this year traced back to obedience.
Not perfection.
Not certainty.
Just yes.
And I would choose it again.
Leave a comment