Obedience Isn’t Heavy: It’s the Lightest Way to Live

If you’re anything like me, the word obedience used to feel a little… heavy.

Not because I didn’t want to follow God, but because somewhere along the way, I confused obedience with perfection.

I thought obedience meant getting everything right.
Holding everything together.
Never messing up.
Always proving that I could handle what God gave me.

But this is what God has been rewriting in my heart:

Obedience isn’t pressure. It’s freedom.
Obedience doesn’t weigh us down. It lifts us up.
Obedience isn’t God demanding more. It’s Him inviting us into His best.

In A Pace of Grace, I write:

“When I feel the familiar pull to strive, I remind myself that God doesn’t require perfection; He desires my heart.”

That sentence came from a real moment—one where I felt like I was failing at everything. And all God whispered was,
“Just walk with Me.”

Not run.
Not hustle.
Not prove.

Just walk.

---

Obedience is not a task — it’s a relationship.

When we think of obedience apart from love, it becomes rigid and exhausting.
But when we think of obedience inside our relationship with God, everything softens.

A daughter doesn’t obey to earn her father’s love.
She responds to love that already exists.

That’s what obedience feels like with Jesus.

It’s closer to:
“Lord, I trust You enough to follow You.”
than
“Lord, I’m trying to be good enough for You.”

Jesus said,

“My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30)

If what we’re carrying feels suffocating, chances are… it’s not obedience.
It’s striving.

Obedience is God saying:
“Let Me lead you into peace. Let Me show you the way.”

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A moment God used to teach me this

There was a day when I felt like I was juggling too many responsibilities—ministry, motherhood, deadlines, expectations, and the inner voice telling me I wasn’t enough. I sat in my car, mentally listing everything I didn’t get done.

I asked God, “Am I failing?”

And He answered so gently,
“No, daughter. You’re just trying to lead when I’ve asked you to follow.”

That stopped me.
Because He was right.

I had taken back the reins.
I was trying to run ahead.
I was hustling for approval God had already given.

Obedience wasn’t asking more of me—it was asking me to slow down.

---

Obedience begins with one simple question

Instead of asking:
“What do I need to get done today?”

Ask:
“Lord, what is mine to carry today?”

This question re-centers everything.

It clears the noise.
It lifts the shame.
It breaks off the striving.
And it reminds us that God doesn’t assign us a whole year at once.
He gives us today.

And He gives us the grace for today.

---

How to Practice Light-Hearted Obedience This Week

Here are a few simple rhythms you can try:

01. Ask God for your assignment each morning

Just one thing.
One act of obedience.
One next step.

02. Pay attention to what brings peace

Obedience aligns with peace, not panic.

03. Release anything God didn’t ask you to carry

Expectations, guilt, unnecessary responsibilities, old habits.

You don’t need to drag along what God already lifted from you.

04. Celebrate small yeses

Obedience is built on tiny steps of trust.

You don’t need a grand moment to be obedient.
You just need a willing heart.

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The Sweet Truth About Obedience

Obedience is not God testing us.
It’s God guiding us.
Protecting us.
Forming us.
Freeing us.

And above all…
Obedience is love in motion.

The more we walk with Him, the more we realize this is the lightest way to live.

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✨ A Note About the Book

If this idea of surrender and “obeying without striving” speaks to you, Chapter 5 of A Pace of Grace goes deep into what I call Tenacious Grace — the grace that helps us cling to God even when the path feels uncertain.

I pray it blesses you when you read it.

A Pace of Grace: Steady Your Spirit When Life Gets Messy

By Heather Cook

Buy on Amazon

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When Your Soul Is Tired of Trying: A New Year Invitation to Surrender

There’s something about January that stirs up pressure, isn’t there?
A fresh start. A blank calendar. A brand-new list of expectations we quietly place on ourselves.

Everywhere we turn, the world tells us to hustle harder, set bigger goals, chase more, produce more, become more. And while there’s nothing wrong with goals or growth, I noticed something in myself these last few years: I didn’t need a new plan. I needed a new pace.

And not the pace the world tells me to run…
but the one God invites me to walk.

In A Pace of Grace, I write:

“Stillness doesn’t come from clearing my calendar but by filling my soul with Him, even in the chaos.”

That sentence came straight out of a season when my soul felt overextended—like I was trying to carry the weight of my life on my own shoulders. And friend… I don’t want to start another year like that. Maybe you don’t either.

---

Striving looks holy on the outside, but it drains us on the inside.

I used to think striving and obedience were the same thing—like if I didn’t give 110 percent, God would be disappointed. But striving is fueled by fear. Obedience is fueled by love.

Striving says:
“I have to prove myself.”

Obedience says:
“God, I trust You.”

Striving keeps us frantic.
Obedience keeps us free.
Striving puts the weight back on us.
Obedience puts the weight back on God.

As I prayed over this January, the Lord reminded me that a surrendered heart is far more powerful than a perfectly executed plan.

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Maybe this year isn’t about doing more. Maybe it’s about releasing more.

Releasing control.
Releasing hurry.
Releasing the expectations we’ve been carrying for far too long.

Surrender is letting God lead instead of dragging Him behind us while we run.

And surrender becomes a doorway to peace.

When I finally stopped trying to “fix” my life through lists and schedules and leaned fully into Jesus, everything shifted. My circumstances didn’t magically change… but my heart did. My pace did. My awareness of His presence did.

Maybe the invitation for us this January isn’t to work harder but to breathe deeper.

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A simple practice for this week:

5 Minutes of Stillness

I want to invite you into something small and sacred:

Take five minutes each day to sit with Jesus before you sit with the world.

Set a timer.
Sit in the quiet.
And pray, “Lord, I surrender this day to You. Lead me at Your pace.”

Don’t overthink it.
Don’t try to “do it right.”
Just show up. God loves showing up too.

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This month’s heart posture: Surrender over striving

As we step into a new year, you don’t need to earn God’s love or prove your worth. You are already His daughter—chosen, loved, and held.

My prayer for you (and for myself) is this:

Lord, teach us to walk in step with You. Slow our striving. Steady our hearts. Let obedience be our joy and surrender be our strength.

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✨ A Note About the Book

If your heart is longing for a gentler pace this year—one filled with rest, presence, and freedom from striving—A Pace of Grace was written for you.

It will be available for pre-order, and I can’t wait to walk this journey of surrender and obedience with you each step of the way.

A Pace of Grace: Steady Your Spirit When Life Gets Messy

By Heather Cook

Buy on Amazon

When the Outcome Isn’t What You Expected

You obeyed.
You prayed.
You trusted.
And then… it didn’t turn out the way you imagined.

What do you do when obedience doesn’t lead to the outcome you hoped for?

Maybe the ministry didn’t grow.
Maybe the relationship didn’t heal.
Maybe the opportunity closed.
Maybe you felt alone in your yes.

It’s in these moments we find out what our obedience was really rooted in.

“Obedience is not a transaction; it’s a transformation. God isn’t after results. He’s after your heart.”
– A Pace of Grace, Chapter 5

Sometimes we obey hoping it will produce something visible—something we can measure. But God is often doing something invisible.
Something eternal.

He’s forming you.
Training your trust.
Building your endurance.
And teaching you how to walk by faith, not by outcome.

“God isn’t only working through your obedience—He’s working in you as you obey.”

The fruit may not look like what you expected.
But that doesn’t mean your yes was wasted.

You never know what God is protecting you from, preparing you for, or producing behind the scenes.

So don’t let a disappointing outcome convince you that God didn’t move.
He did.
He is.
And He will.

Because obedience that honors Him always bears fruit.
Even if it takes a while to see.

Reflect + Respond:

• Has obedience ever led you somewhere unexpected?

• What did you learn about God—or about yourself—in that process?

Don’t measure the worth of your obedience by the size of the outcome.
Measure it by the nearness of your Savior.

Scripture for the Week:

“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 (NIV)

💛 From the Pages of A Pace of Grace

This post wraps up our August Called series, inspired by Chapter 5 of my upcoming book, A Pace of Grace.
Because grace doesn’t always show up in the result—
Sometimes, it shows up in the middle of your yes.

Coming February 2026 from Leafwood Publishers.

Small Steps, Big Faith

We often think of calling as this big, dramatic, spotlight moment.
A lightning bolt from heaven.
A stage. A mission. A moment of total clarity.

But more often?
It starts with something small.

One faithful yes.
One hard conversation.
One decision to show up when no one’s watching.

“Faithfulness in the small things trains us to recognize God’s voice in the big things.”
– A Pace of Grace, Chapter 5

Sometimes we miss God’s invitation because we’re waiting for it to feel bigger.
But obedience isn’t measured by how flashy it looks.
It’s measured by faith.

I think about Nehemiah.
He didn’t start by building a wall.
He started by weeping for his people and asking the king for permission to help.
Before he ever held a tool, he held a burden—and obeyed one step at a time.

God isn’t just calling us to “do big things.”
He’s calling us to be faithful in the little things—
because that’s how He builds something lasting.

“Sometimes God’s plan doesn’t feel significant until you look back and see the pattern of small yeses stacked like stones of faith.”

When you feel overlooked, underestimated, or like what you’re doing isn’t enough—
Remember: small obedience still matters.
God sees it.
He blesses it.
And He builds something holy through it.

Reflect + Respond:

• What small step is God asking you to take this week?

• Are you overlooking something small because it doesn’t feel “important enough”?

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what faithfulness looks like today. Then, trust Him with tomorrow.

Scripture for the Week:

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…”
—Luke 16:10 (NIV)

💛 From the Pages of A Pace of Grace

This week’s post is shaped by Chapter 5 of my upcoming book, A Pace of Grace.
Because faithfulness isn’t always about what we do—it’s about who we’re becoming in the process.
Coming February 2026 from Leafwood Publishers.

Tenacious Grace: When Obedience Feels Costly

There’s a kind of obedience that feels light and joy-filled—like a deep breath of peace. But then there’s the other kind. The kind that stretches you. Costs you. Presses against your comfort zone and makes you wonder if you really heard God right.

That’s what I call Tenacious Grace—the grace that helps you keep saying yes when your yes feels risky or unclear.

“Obedience isn’t about having it all together. It’s about saying yes even when it’s hard. Even when it costs us something. Tenacious grace is the grace that helps you keep showing up, keep believing, and keep saying yes.”
– A Pace of Grace, Chapter 5

Over the years, I’ve learned something about this kind of obedience: it rarely comes with a roadmap. It usually comes with a whisper.

And that whisper? It’s quiet, but steady. Persistent. It nudges you when you’d rather stay still. It draws you toward people, places, or decisions that feel just a little too big for your current strength. It’s the kind of invitation that almost always feels inconvenient—but undeniably holy.

I’ve walked into assignments that made zero sense on paper, but were confirmed by God again and again through His Word, His Spirit, and the fruit that followed. And while there have been tears, nerves, and moments where I felt unqualified, there’s also been deep joy—the kind that can only be found when you’re exactly where He wants you.

“God isn’t testing your strength. He’s training your trust.”

Tenacious grace is what holds you steady when you say yes and everything gets harder before it gets better. It’s the reminder that God didn’t ask for perfection—He asked for surrender. And even the smallest act of obedience can turn into a move of God you never saw coming.

If God’s asking you to do something that feels bigger than you, I want to remind you of this: obedience isn’t always convenient, but it is always worth it.

And when it feels costly? That’s often a sign that it’s building something eternal.

Reflect + Respond:

• Where is God asking you to take a brave step of obedience right now?

• What’s holding you back?

• What would it look like to trust Him more than your comfort?

Take a moment to journal or pray over those questions—and then, say yes.

Scripture for the Week:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
—Romans 8:28 (NIV)

💛 From the Pages of A Pace of Grace

This post was inspired by Chapter 5 of my upcoming book, A Pace of Grace: Steady Your Spirit When Life Gets Messy.
If you’ve ever wondered how to stay grounded, trust God’s leading, and find joy in obedience—this book was written for you.

Coming February 2026 from Leafwood Publishers.
Stay tuned for more sneak peeks this fall!

Discerning God’s Call in Real Life

There’s this old quote from F.B. Meyer that says,

“God’s impressions within and His Word without are always corroborated by His providence around, and we should quietly wait until these three focus into one point… You will become so sure that you are right, when God’s three witnesses concur, that you could not be surer though an angel beckoned you.”

I’ve got to be honest—I’m not sure I’ve ever seen glowworms light my path (like Meyer suggests), but I have seen God's confirmation show up in the most surprising and sacred ways.

Through my time in ministry, I’ve never been more confident in recognizing the voice and movement of God. That’s not to say I never question or wrestle with uncertainty—because I do. There are still days when the next step feels foggy. But when I know… I know. And it’s unmistakable.

I’ve been blessed with a team who sees the fruit when I take the steps God puts on my heart. I’ve had people encourage me even when it doesn’t make sense in the moment—only to watch it all come together in ways we never could’ve orchestrated ourselves.

It’s those moments that leave me in awe all over again.

Isn’t it amazing how, when we take a step of obedience—trusting that it was God who nudged us—we start seeing that same message in Scripture, hearing it in conversation, getting asked the very questions we’ve been praying about? And then, as if out of nowhere, God moves powerfully, gently confirming, “Yes, this was Me.”

That’s what F.B. Meyer was getting at. God speaks through His Word, through His Spirit within us, and through the circumstances around us. When all three line up, it’s like a divine spotlight on the path ahead.

“God’s impressions within and His Word without are always corroborated by His providence around, and we should quietly wait until these three focus into one point… You will become so sure that you are right, when God’s three witnesses concur, that you could not be surer though an angel beckoned you.”

— F.B. Meyer

But here’s the challenge:
We won’t always be able to explain it.
It won’t always make sense at first.
It might even look a little “weird” to others.

That doesn’t mean we’re wrong.
It just means we’re walking by faith.

So let’s not be so focused on figuring out how the story ends that we miss the step-by-step beauty of what God is doing. Let’s not cling so tightly to our own plans that we overlook His unfolding one. Because He isn’t just working through the outcome—He’s forming us through the process.

God is raising up people—women like you and me—with a call that may look different than expected, but is deeply rooted in His heart and His Word. We don’t need to have all the answers. We need only to surrender, listen, and obey. The same God who calls will carry it to completion.

So if you’re in a place of wondering whether you heard Him right—pause. Pray. Get in the Word. Seek wise counsel. Watch what God does. His fingerprints are often all over the thing we weren’t even sure about.

And when those three witnesses—His voice within, His Word without, and His providence around—start to align… move forward in faith.

You may not see glowworms lighting the way,
but you will see His glory.

This post kicks off our August blog series: "Called."
Whether you're just beginning to wonder what your calling is, in the thick of obeying a word that doesn’t make sense yet, or waiting for confirmation—it’s for you.

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