The Mindset Shift That Changed My Obedience to God

I used to think obedience was about readiness. I believed that when I felt confident, when I had more clarity, when I was sure I wouldn’t fail, then I would step out in faith. I convinced myself that hesitation was wisdom, that waiting was being responsible. But in reality, I was just afraid.

Fear disguised itself as preparation.

Caution masked itself as discernment.

Procrastination looked a lot like “waiting on the Lord.”

But then God showed me something that completely shifted my perspective: Obedience is not about feeling ready. It is about trusting Him.

When Readiness Becomes an Excuse

I remember wrestling with something I knew God was asking me to do. Deep down, I sensed His leading. The instructions were clear, but I still hesitated. I told myself, “I just need more confirmation,” as if God hadn’t already spoken through His Word, through wise counsel, and through that still, small voice in my spirit.

My prayers sounded something like this:

"Lord, I want to obey You, but I don’t feel equipped."
"I will do it, but I just need a little more time."
"What if I step out and it doesn’t work?"

One day, I came across 1 Samuel 15:22, where Samuel confronts Saul after he chose partial obedience instead of full surrender. Samuel tells him,

"Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

That verse convicted me deeply. Saul had convinced himself that his way was good enough, that he could tweak God’s instructions and still be in His will. He made decisions based on what seemed logical instead of simply obeying what God had said.

When I read that passage, I realized that I had been doing the same thing. I had been offering God my excuses instead of my yes.

Delayed Obedience is Still Disobedience

For so long, I believed that partial obedience was still obedience. I thought that as long as I was willing to do what God asked, it counted for something. But delayed obedience is still disobedience. Partial obedience is still disobedience.

Abraham was called to leave his homeland before he knew where he was going. Peter was called to step out of the boat before he knew if he could walk on water. The disciples were called to follow Jesus before they had all the details. None of them had time to analyze, overthink, or map out every possible scenario. They simply obeyed because they trusted the One who was calling them.

The truth is, if I always wait until I feel ready, I may never move at all.

If I require full clarity before taking a step, I may never leave the shore.

If I need to eliminate all risk before obeying, I will likely miss what God is trying to do in and through me.

The Mindset Shift That Changed Everything

I had to shift my mindset from:

"What if I fail?" to "What if God moves?"

"What if I’m not ready?" to "What if God equips me as I go?"

"Am I capable?" to "Is God faithful?"

That shift changed everything. I started to realize that my obedience was never about my abilities, my confidence, or my feelings. It was always about my trust in Him.

God does not need me to be perfectly prepared. He needs me to be willing.

He is not looking for my certainty. He is looking for my surrender.

He does not require my perfection. He desires my faith.

It’s Time to Say Yes

If there is something God has been asking you to do, let this be your sign:

Do not wait until you feel ready.

Maybe He is calling you to step into a new ministry, write the book, share your testimony, let go of that toxic relationship, or finally take the next step of faith you have been putting off. If you have been waiting for a perfect moment, let me remind you that the moment for obedience is always now.

Obey first. The details will come later.