Joy in Obedience
When Following God Becomes Freedom
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” — Frederick Buechner
If I’m honest, “obedience” used to feel like a heavy word to me.
It conjured up images of rule-following, duty, obligation, doing things I didn’t really want to do because I was supposed to. It felt restrictive, like obedience meant giving up the things that would make me happy in exchange for some distant, theoretical reward.
But somewhere along the way, I discovered something that completely changed how I see obedience: There is profound joy in doing what God asks.
Not the kind of joy that comes from getting what we want, but something deeper. The kind of joy that comes from alignment when our will and God’s will move in the same direction. When we stop fighting and start flowing. When we discover that what He’s asking of us isn’t a burden to bear, but an invitation to freedom.
Obedience Flows From Love
Here’s what I’ve learned: Obedience doesn’t start with behavior. It starts with relationship.
When we spend unhurried time with God, when we choose Him first and learn to recognize His voice, obedience becomes less about following rules and more about following Someone we love and trust.
Jesus said it beautifully: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Notice He didn’t say, “Keep my commandments so that I’ll love you.” Love comes first. Obedience flows from it.
When we truly know God’s heart toward us. When we understand that every instruction He gives is rooted in His love and His desire for our flourishing, obedience stops feeling like restriction and starts feeling like protection. Like guidance. Like coming home.
The Surprising Freedom of Surrender
This is the paradox that the world can’t understand: Surrender to God is the pathway to the truest freedom.
When we obey God, we’re not giving up our freedom we’re stepping into it. We’re freed from the exhausting burden of trying to be our own god, make all our own decisions, carry all our own consequences. We’re freed from the tyranny of our own limited perspective.
God sees what we can’t see. He knows what’s around the corner. He understands the bigger picture of our lives in ways we never could. When we obey Him, even when it doesn’t make sense, even when it’s hard, we’re trusting that His vision is clearer than ours.
And there is deep, abiding joy in that kind of trust.
My Story of Trust and Surrender
Let me share something deeply personal with you.
I recall a time when my husband and I had just recently moved after living in Texas for about eight years. We relocated to Florida in May of 2021 (as COVID protocol was still in effect for most states, except Florida) to care for both of his parents who were in memory care, and we wanted to be closer to help them during this season.
In October 2021, shortly after settling in, I got a part-time job at a local retail store, which I was thoroughly enjoying. Going in I knew that I would be making less money than I had after leaving my corporate position before moving to Florida.
However, an opportunity came up where I could make lots more money in a position I was already familiar with, in the area of education. I jumped at this opportunity so quickly that I gave my retail employer only a week’s notice. They were gracious about it and actually recommended that I just take a leave of absence instead.
The Crossroads
In May of 2022, I took on the position with the university which lasted approximately three and a half months. During that time, there were so many signs of what was to come. I discovered some things that made me realize I needed to make a difficult choice. I was working for someone who only cared about the ‘bottom line’ for the university, she treated the employees poorly, did not care to engage with the students and pretty much sat at her desk and ate throughout the day. We knew not to interrupt her during those times. Looking back I can tell that was how she gained comfort away from the world and the environment in which she was in charge of.
The difficult choice I had to make was to go to Los Angeles to spend time with my parents because I knew that I had to see my father, who had been ill and somewhat immobile, and a dear friend of mine who had announced early in the year that she had bile duct cancer. She was told that she had six months to live, which she had already defied her oncologist’s timeline.
When I brought this to the attention of the director of the university, I was told that I hadn’t provided them enough notice to take any time off, vacation, leave of absence or even without pay, though it had been a month in advance. Yes, I hadn’t been on the job long, but I let her know exactly what I was facing personally and said that I needed to take that time.
Upon approaching her, she reminded me again that it was short notice, and I let her know that this was a personal situation where I might not see them ever again.
The Wrestling
So I went back to my desk, sat on this for a while, and I started really thinking about how this had all materialized, especially since she was not the most warm person in terms of how she treated us as a staff.
Looking back at the beginning, I had jumped at the opportunity to work for the university because she seemed excited about my experience and demanded that I rush on this opportunity due to the training that would take place in about a week and a half on the other coast of Florida. But as I learned more, I realized that I had faced this before, dealing with a narcissist, being kind of ‘future faked’ of how wonderful it would be to get me on board as soon as possible. And that was a shame on me because I pretty much went in for the money, knowing that this position wasn’t going to be much of a challenge.
That night, I went back home to think about it and pray on it. I really thought about: Do I need the money that badly? My husband and I were in the house that we were renovating to make it more our own, and I was really enjoying the job that I had in the retail store. However, this university job was actually creating more stress for me than dealing with the public on a day-to-day basis. Plus, I was missing the precious faces of the children that would come through the store.
The Decision
The next day, I went back to the university and let her know that I was going to have to take that time off for at least a week or two, and I would gladly return to maintain my students and get ready for the next session. She informed me that I would not have a job because I couldn’t be rehired by the university due to the short notice, even with what I had shared with her.
I went to my desk, unable to focus on my duties as I sat and thought about it for a while. Then I went back and let her know that I was going to leave that day. “Because that’s not leaving me much of a choice,” I told her. “And since I can’t come back, I apologize. I thank you for giving me this opportunity. I’m going to miss the students and those staff members.”
I knew that I had to do what was best for me after my conversation with God. All I kept thinking about was Him telling me “go and I will take care of you.” Jumping at this job just for the money was kind of like slapping God in the face because He provides everything. He’s the ultimate source for everything. Here I was ‘worrying’ about what tomorrow will bring, as tomorrow brings enough troubles of its own. That is why God must be first in all things. Basically, He took me back to my favorite verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, where I had strayed off the path, and He made it straight for me again.
God’s Faithfulness
Well, to make a long story short, in September of 2022, I did make it to Los Angeles. I spent a beautiful time with my friend and then with my mom and dad. I was sad upon my return to Florida, because I knew that this would be the last time that I would see them like this, but I didn’t know that I would be hurting so much from the visit.
Fast forward six months later, March 25, 2023, I lost my dad. He had fallen, and his health had just deteriorated. I was just grateful that I was available to fly back to L.A. to be by his bedside as he slipped into an eternal sleep and to help Mom with the services and everything that comes with the passing of a loved one. I stayed in Los Angeles for over a month, so that we could hold the memorial service for my father, which took place on April 27, 2023.
NOTE: This is my dad Leo D. Sullivan, an Emmy-winning pioneer in animation with a career of over 50 years and work on dozens of cartoons like ‘Hey, Hey, Hey it’s Fat Albert,’ ‘Scooby-Doo,’ ‘The Hulk,’ the original 1971 Soul Train animated train and so much more.
While in Los Angeles, I made several attempts to visit with my best friend Yvette, all of which were unsuccessful due to her body getting weak. Just before I was ready to return home, I received a call on April 29, 2023 from Yvette’s sister Angie that my sweet friend may not make it through the evening. I let her know that I was in town and asked if I could be there with the family, to which she responded with a loving yes.
I made it to the house where her three sons, husband, mother and her sister were by her side and I took a seat as well, as we were waiting for her brother to fly in. There were beautiful hymns softly playing as my dear friend lay there while receiving oxygen. Within less than 2 hours of my arrival she went home to be with the Lord, just 2 days after we said a final goodbye to my father.
In June 2023, I returned to Los Angeles to attend and participate in her service, and I spoke on behalf of not only myself but another friend, who was unable to attend. We always did great things together while growing up as young adults. We were more like sisters.
I thank God that He gave me the ability to be there for my mom and then for my best friend’s family. I actually got to be there when she passed. I was the only one outside of the family. And for that, I’m forever grateful.
The Greater Loss, The Greater Grace
It was a sad time in my life, but all I kept thinking was: Thank You, Lord, that I just listened and trusted You to take care of everything. Even my heart, because it was very difficult at that time to lose not just my father and Yvette, but also another dear friend who died from Alzheimer’s and two of my spiritual leaders, one namely Dr. Charles F. Stanley, all within 2 months time.
I went from caring too much about making more money, to being obedient to God’s voice and not earning any income during that time. Trusting God as my true source in time of need. That’s faith!
I just know as I look back at times when I’d been laid off and God took care of me when I didn’t try to do things my way, he was sustaining me, protecting me and growing me spiritually. Through hope and prayer and just being still, I found the importance of obedience in such precious times. And for that, I’m forever grateful.
What Obedience Actually Looks Like
Obedience isn’t always dramatic. Most of the time, it’s quiet and daily.
It’s choosing forgiveness when you’d rather hold a grudge. It’s stewarding your resources generously when fear whispers that you won’t have enough. It’s speaking truth in love when silence would be easier. It’s staying when you want to run, or leaving when you want to stay.
It’s the small, faithful yeses that accumulate into a life that looks like Jesus.
And here’s the beautiful thing: Every act of obedience, no matter how small, deepens our intimacy with God. Every time we choose His way over ours, we experience a little more of His goodness. We learn to trust Him more. We discover that He really does know what’s best.
The joy compounds.
An Invitation
So here’s my question for you today: Where is God inviting you into obedience?
Maybe it’s something you’ve been avoiding because it feels too hard. Maybe it’s something you’ve been wrestling with, unsure if you heard Him right. Maybe it’s something small that keeps nudging at your heart.
What if you said yes?
Not out of obligation or fear, but out of love. Not because you have to, but because you want to follow the One who loves you most.
I promise you this: When we obey God, even when it costs us something, we always gain more than we lose. The joy on the other side of obedience is real, and it’s worth it.
God isn’t asking you to obey Him so He can control you. He’s inviting you to obey Him so He can free you to become who you were always meant to be, to live the life you were always meant to live.
That’s where the joy is!
Let’s Talk About It
I’d love to hear from you:
🗨️What’s one area where God is calling you to trust Him more fully? Have you experienced the paradox of finding freedom through obedience?
Drop a comment below. I read every single one, and I’d be honored to hear your story.
And if this post resonated with you, would you consider sharing it with someone who needs to hear it? Sometimes we all need the reminder that obedience to God isn’t a burden, it’s the pathway to the abundant life He promised us.
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Joyfully yours,
Tina ❤️