2025.06.08 | When Obedience Makes Things Awkward... Not Easier

It started with a conversation in the break room. It wasn’t planned. It never is.

We were just talking about weekend plans when I mentioned I was headed to church on Sunday. My co-worker paused.

“Oh… you go to church?”

I smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I’ve been going to a place called Hope Community. It’s been a really good thing for me.”

He didn’t say much after that. Just kind of nodded and turned back to his coffee. And for the rest of the day, I couldn’t shake the weirdness I felt. Had I made things awkward? Was I being that person? Did I just ruin our work dynamic?

I wanted to follow God and be open about my faith, but that Monday felt… off. The “open door” I had prayed for left me feeling exposed and unsure. No spiritual fireworks. No deep conversation. Just a weird silence.

That week, I showed up to my community group feeling discouraged. But I shared the moment anyway. I half-joked, “Well… I might’ve made it weird.”

What I didn’t expect was how my group reminded me of something I really needed to hear: obedience is about faithfulness, not the results. One person said, “You planted a seed. Don’t discount that.” Another shared their own awkward moment at work and how long it took before anything came of it. Their encouragement, and just knowing I wasn’t alone, helped more than I can say.

Then came Sunday.

The sermon from Acts 14 reminded me I was in good company. Paul and Barnabas were doing everything right: boldly preaching, staying faithful, walking through the doors God opened… and they still faced rejection, opposition, even violence.

And Pastor Jeff said something that stuck with me:
“Don’t take the praise of others to heart. Don’t take the hatred of others to heart. Serve the Lord. Stay on mission.”

It hit me. I had been measuring the success of my obedience by how easy or comfortable it felt. But that’s not the call. The call is to stay on mission, even when it’s quiet, awkward, or unseen.

I don’t know if that co-worker and I will ever talk about faith again. But I know this: I’ll keep showing up. I’ll keep stepping through the doors God opens. And I’ll keep trusting that He’s working… even in the silence.

If you’ve ever felt discouraged after obeying God, you’re not alone.
Watch last Sunday’s message on YouTube:

Join us in person this Sunday at Hope Community. We’d love to walk with you.