Inconvenient Obedience
Philip, one of the original twelve disciples chosen by Jesus, had just experienced revival in Samaria. Crowds were responding to the gospel. Lives were changing. Then God interrupted all of it with a new assignment. No details. No crowd. Just a quiet road in the heat of the day.
“Later God’s angel spoke to Philip: ‘At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.’ He got up and went.” Acts 8:26 MSG
This verse gets me every time.
God did not say, There is a revival waiting.
He did not say, There is someone important to meet.
He just said: Walk. At noon. On a desolate road.
It is easy to skim past that. But think about it. Noon is the hottest time of the day.
The road was desolate, meaning lonely, dry, and most likely empty.
And walk? That is no quick drive or camel ride.
God’s instruction was specific, uncomfortable, and honestly inconvenient.
And yet it says, He got up and went.
No debate. No delay. No details needed. Just obedience.
And that is where the miracle started.
We tend to expect God to work through the convenient. Open doors. Exciting opportunities. Clear signs.
But sometimes the greatest encounters begin in dry places, in the heat of the day, when you are walking with no obvious destination.
Philip did not need the full plan. He just needed a word. And he followed.
Maybe you are on a desolate road right now.
It feels hot. Slow. Quiet.
But what if this is the very place God plans to do something powerful
Obedience may not always make sense in the moment, but it always carries blessing.
I have seen this firsthand.
There was a time when I felt a strong nudge to reach out to someone who had drifted from church. We had not talked in a while, and part of me wondered if it would even matter. It felt awkward and a little inconvenient. But I could not shake it. So I sent a simple text. It turned into a long conversation, a moment of prayer, and eventually, a step back into community for them. It reminded me that sometimes God is working on the other end of our obedience, even when we cannot see it yet.
That experience reminded me that it is not always easy to obey. Even small steps can feel risky, awkward, or unclear. And the truth is, there are plenty of things that try to hold us back from saying yes.
3 Things That Often Stop Obedience
We Wait for Clarity Instead of Trusting God
We want the full plan. The who, what, when, where, and how. But God often gives us just enough light for the next step. Obedience means walking even when we cannot see the whole path.We Confuse Comfort with Confirmation
If it is uncomfortable or inconvenient, we assume it cannot be from God. But obedience often stretches us. Sometimes the call of God leads us into dry places before it leads us into breakthrough.We Fear Looking Foolish
What if I miss it? What if this is not God? Philip walked to a desert road with no crowd in sight. Sometimes obedience looks strange until the miracle shows up.
So if you feel hesitant, unsure, or stuck, you are not alone. Just start where Philip did. With a simple yes.
God, help me obey when it is inconvenient.
Help me trust You enough to walk the road You send me on even when it is hot, lonely, or unclear.
I believe there is purpose in the desert. I believe there is a miracle in motion. Amen.
Make it Personal
What desolate road might God be asking me to walk right now?
Have I been waiting for convenience or clarity before obeying?
What is one step of obedience I have been putting off?
Who might be impacted by my yes even if I never see the full result?
