Discovering Joy in Obedience

Wendy Duckworth Vance

Obedience is defined by Merriam-Webster as an act or instance of obeying or a sphere of jurisdiction (“Definition of Obedience,” 2023).  In our current era, it would seem that it is a concept that has fallen out of fashion, especially when it is a discussion of Biblical obedience.   All too often individuals who commit themselves to living lives that are devoted to the Word and living Christ-centered, Christ-led lives find themselves subject to scorn and accusation. We are told by the world that our beliefs are irrelevant in the modern world, and that to live by the principles of God and to entrust our lives to Him is foolish. We are told that we are missing out by not partaking in the pleasures of the world. We are repressing ourselves and others, abridging their freedom, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law” (Aleister Crowley, n.d.). Perhaps one could even say, “My Way” by Frank Sinatra sums up the modern way of life. In it, he says that he has “regrets” and notes that there were times when he bit off more than he could chew, but he seems to indicate that these difficulties are fine because “I did it my way” (Frank Sinatra - My Way Lyrics | Lyrics.com, n.d.). It is an anthem for rugged individualism that says that “I need no rules and anyone to put limits on me.”  It is an anthem of individual freedom at all costs, no matter who is harmed whether self or others. 

And before you start thinking I am speaking only to those outside the church, I am not. Over the past three years, I have heard those inside and outside the church railing against anything that even provides a hint of a restriction that might require some measure of obedience to an entity other than oneself. It is as if the word “obedience” elicits the same amount of disdain that was once reserved for the vulgar words that are now commonplace. For surely if we were to live in obedience we would somehow cease to be living a full life because obedience, according to modern thinking, strips life of that which is enjoyable. Having a law designed to protect others is seen as an assault upon liberty itself. But what if there were another way to view obedience? What if rather than loss, obedience brought us gain? What if rather than sadness, one found joy in obedience?

Joy in obedience may seem like an oxymoron to many because the connotation is that to be obedient is to give in to a limitation. How could one be joyful in giving up something? It is an understandable question because, more often than not, giving up or losing something is anything but enjoyable. But if you look critically at things that God tells us are sinful or outside of His will, you will find that these “restrictions” do not curtail life, rather they make it more abundant. For example, look at the food regulations - most of the animals that we are told to avoid are kind of gross if you think about it. After all, most are nature’s garbage disposal. While bacon may be tasty- is it good for your health? There is some scientific evidence that suggests that pork can be linked to a variety of health conditions that can lead to disease and in some cases death (Minger, 2017). What about sexual immorality - has “sexual freedom” led to a better society? Some would say yes because people are not “repressed”. Okay, so people aren’t repressed but what about the young woman struggling to make ends meet because she now has a child to care for and the daddy is nowhere to be found, or the guy who is wasting away because of that sexually transmitted disease he contracted?Do you really think either cares about their sexual freedom? I think that is most likely the last thing on their minds. They are probably reflecting on how their life got to this sincerely messed up place, after all, they were just being free, right? Why should there be consequences for unfettered freedom with no rules? That couldn’t possibly lead to a less-than-positive outcome, right? How can God be benevolent or loving if He allows the consequences of our actions to occur? If He loves us shouldn’t that mean He will approve of everything we do and want us to have fun with no consequences? After all, isn't love approving of everything a person does? That is, what it feels like these days. If I don’t approve of everything a person does, I am a hater, unloving, I am trying to repress people, at least according to the world. To live in obedience is a sad prison of repression. But what if there was a different way to look at obedience? What if obedience brings freedom rather than oppression? 

Today I want to share a little with you about my journey into obedience. It is a journey that has been long and, at times, painful. It is a journey that is not yet complete, but I am thankful to Yeshua (Jesus) that I am much further along my path than I used to be. 

Although the journey started long before, it was in 2019 that I was in a car accident while in a rideshare. As a result of the accident, I sustained some injuries to discs in my spine that have left me with chronic pain and mobility limitations. During my initial recovery process, I was working shorter days due to pain and medical treatments, which resulted in spending a lot more time at home alone with time to think and reflect. I had time and stillness to hear from God, a luxury that is difficult to find in a busy household where there is always noise and commotion.  In that stillness, I thought about how much God has done for me, how far He has brought me, the things He has brought me through and out of, His protection of me physically so many times. I may have been injured but I was alive and have all of my facilities, whether impaired or not, with a renewed opportunity to serve Him. I had to ask myself, how was I using those opportunities, how was I serving Him, how was I representing Him to my family or the outside world? And to be honest, I was squandering the opportunities He gave me. There were unsavory things that would come out of my mouth. I wasn’t witnessing because, or so I told myself, I am an introvert and because I thought I would be shunned at work or possibly fired. I was fighting with my children and my spouse. I just wasn’t being obedient, there is no other way to slice it.  

It wasn’t that I did not love God or that I did not want to serve Him but I was allowing myself to be consumed by the world and its standards. I did not want to be obedient because I did not want to be outside the world’s system. I didn’t want to be weird or stand out any more than I already do having a disability. I was too busy finding my worth in the world rather than finding my worth in Christ.  Bottom line, I had two masters - the world’s system and God. 

I was no stranger to obedience or giving up things for God. I had done so in the past, and in my heart, I knew that when I was previously obedient I had so much joy and peace. But I had become complacent.  I had been “obedient enough”.  But in this precious time that I had to be alone with God, I realized that I wanted more than this surface relationship. I just wasn’t sure how to get there. So, I started to shift my prayers.  I started to ask God to show me my disobedience, to prune me of those dead branches that were holding me down.  

This was not an overnight process and, it is not yet complete. But when I started responding to God and making those changes that  He put on my heart, I felt more at peace. It became easier and easier to put down the things that the world said were important and to pick up the things of God. I was able to give and leave my life in God’s hands, stop getting as upset when things went wrong, and go to God in prayer rather than trying to do life my way.  This in and of itself offered me so much freedom because I finally began to understand the peace that comes from truly surrendering my life to Christ regardless of what the world may think. This was a huge thing for me because I consistently worry about everything and attempt to fix everything with my strength and knowledge, oftentimes sacrificing my peace and surrendering to anxiety. Things that used to matter, like fashion and making great achievements in my career, just weren’t that important. While it may not sound like a good way of thinking about a career, for me it was. It allowed me to free myself from the desire to want to climb a career ladder by doing things that I found objectionable just so I could keep my job, which ultimately allowed me to leave and to start my own business and this ministry. I was able to let go and let God handle the consequences of living in obedience, even when I couldn’t see how everything was going to work out. 

I have felt myself drawing closer to God, and the closer to God I get, the closer I want to be. In this journey, I have learned that I did not miss the habits or the world's approval. I did not miss them because those hungers had been filled by the Spirit. Although I still get a little gloomy and I still have some anxieties, the road grows more clear and bright. It is not that the obstacles of life have disappeared, God did not promise a life free of challenges. What He did promise is that for those who trust in Him, He would be our comforter, our advocate, our friend, our Father, and that He would provide our needs on the journey to accomplish His purpose. Yeshua said,“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28 - 30 NIV). He takes our burdens, and our hardships and, most importantly, gives us access to the Kingdom as the precious blood of Yeshua washes us clean and enables us  to stand in the presence of the holiness of God. He allows you to take from your shoulders the cares, concerns, and pressures of fitting into this world. He replaces the burden and imprisonment of sin with peace and freedom. And although some would not view living in obedience as freedom because there are restrictions, it is precisely those restrictions that bring freedom and joy from knowing that one is freed from the burdens that sin imposes upon us, the havoc that is reaped by the consequences of a life lived in selfish abandon, devoted to excess and debauchery that wastes the body and scars the soul. 

Yes, there is joy in obedience. In knowing that I am a child of God and that He, like any good father, takes care of me. There is joy in knowing that I am loved, that I am beautiful even on my worst day, and that even if the world rejects me and sees me as unworthy, He accepts and loves me. He says of me that I am His child, I am worthy, I am redeemed.  

Obedience brings a joy that cannot be explained or contained.  It is as if the Spirit just bubbles out. Today, I was making a salad and humming a Christian song.  I was just doing it, not really conscious of it, I just felt so joyful.  My daughter looks up and says, “Mama why are you humming?” Bear in mind she is not a morning person; early morning happiness is anathema to her.   Even so, I think this was a question of genuine curiosity on her part.  I looked at her and said, “I am just so joyful I can’t help it; I just feel like humming.” This has not always been true for me.  I have been through periods of depression and times when I seriously considered ending my life. This joy is beyond  explanation. It is not as though my life is perfect or I don’t have any stress or fires that need my attention.  No, the difference is having a closer relationship with Christ.  A relationship that has deepened as I have sought His will for my life and been obedient to His leading.  I am no longer who I used to be, and that fills me with joy because who I used to be was a person separated from the love of God. 

Resources

Definition of obedience. (2023). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obedience 

Aleister Crowley Quotes. (n.d.). BrainyQuote. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/aleister_crowley_156787

Frank Sinatra - My Way Lyrics | Lyrics.com. (n.d.). https:// www.lyrics.com/lyric/967527/Frank+Sinatra/My+Way

Minger, D. (2017, June 22). 4 Hidden Dangers of Pork. Healthline.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-pork-bad