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You are here: Home / Series / Walking in Obedience / Walking in Obedience: Choosing the “Easy Way”

Walking in Obedience: Choosing the “Easy Way”

If you haven’t read the first two posts in this series, I really recommend you reading them before you read this post. You can find the first post by clicking HERE.

 

Today we are going to talk about what it looks like to choose the “ easy way ” when things start to get hard, and your dream feels like it has turned into a nightmare.

Many times over the years, especially with the pain and heartache of our adoption journey, I have been tempted to take the “easy way out”. However my confidence and trust in the Lord has never allowed me to go too far down one of these paths, but I know, and have walked with many people – friends and family – who are on these roads.

When you're dreaming with God and things start to get hard, this is what could happen if you choose the " easy way " | Faith-Fullness.net

Lots of things can happen when you chose the “easy way” –

You give up.

Things get hard, really hard and you think, “this can’t be God, where did I go wrong?” so you give up on pursuing your dream. I’ve wanted to do this about 999 times since we brought our daughter home, but what I see happen when people give up is that they wander. When you give up on your dream, you become a wanderer, looking for your next dream or your next calling.

And then you find your new dream, and the journey starts all over again – God breaks your heart, you go through the honeymoon stage and then it gets hard again, maybe even harder than it was the last time.

So you begin to question God, and you give up again. This pattern of giving up when it gets hard, will never get you anywhere, all it does is lead to a life of wandering.

I don’t know about you, but when I read about the Israelites wandering in the desert, I think “how could they have been so stupid?”. But how many of us have lost our faith for the hard things and end up wandering too?

You blame God.

Another thing that can happen when you choose the “easy way” is you begin to blame God. Believe me, I know it’s really easy to get mad at God when He brings something into your life that turns it upside down, I’ve been there. However, I’ve seen so many people take it to the next level and blame God for all the turmoil in their lives.

What happens when we blame God, is that blame leads to resentment and resentment blinds us, which makes it impossible to see how He’s moving, and the good things He’s doing in and through the hard things. Blaming and resentment also lead to opening doors for the enemy to lie to you and show you all the ways God has “let you down”, which then leads to even more resentment.

When I wrote this God showed me a picture of a train, passing through a station. The train ride represents your journey and He knows it would be easy to step off the train, and be done with the journey – and the pain it has brought you. But what He wants you to know is the station you’re at, isn’t the one He wants you to get off at.

The journey isn’t over yet and the station at the end is going to be bigger and so much more beautiful than you could ever imagine. Remember, the journey isn’t always easy but it is always going to be worth it.

You become passive.

Another thing I see happen when people choose the “easy way”, is that they become passive.

In your mind the dream didn’t turn out the way you thought it should, so you get frustrated and become passive. You accept the lie, “Who do you think you are, asking God for a dream? (The enemy scoffs at you) Your dreams aren’t meant to come true, you’re not worth it.”

And then time goes on and you are without at dream, or a purpose, so you start to wonder why God hasn’t given you one. But what’s really going on, isn’t that God didn’t give you a dream, or hasn’t tried since you gave up the first time, it’s that you are too passive to see what’s right in front of you.

You have become so passive, and believed the lie that you’re not worth it, for so long, that you probably wouldn’t even recognize a dream if it ran right into you.

When we partner with a spirit of passivity it blinds us from seeing what’s all around us. It’s like a horse walking around with blinders, they block the rear and side views so all they see is what’s right in front of them. When we partner with passivity, it’s like walk around with blinders, it’s impossible to see what God has done in the past and what he is currently doing all round us.

Total abandonment.

The last thing I’m going to talk about, that could happen, if you chose the “easy way”, is definitely more extreme, and while I don’t see it happen often, I’ve had people in my life choose this route, so I know it happens.

Total abandonment.

Total abandonment is what happens when you get done blaming God, and your resentment has grown so much that it no longer feels good to just blame God, so you start to blame the people around you. You become a victim and you partner with a very dangerous enemy that opens doors, and speaks lies to make you believe that you have always been the one wronged.

You decide it’s time for you to start a new dream but nobody, not even God, is going to tell you what to do, or how to live your life. You have decided you know what’s best for you, so you abandon everything, and sometimes that includes everyone that was affiliated with the dream journey you had been on.

The danger in ending up here is that you’re believing so many lies from the enemy, and even though everything looks good to you (because you know how to live your life without anyone) it’s a slippery slope. The truth is that we all need people in our lives loving and supporting us. You can’t do it on your own and when you turn your back against God there will be consequences to be paid. There is hope for healing but the further you walk away from the Lord, the harder the healing journey will be.

Obviously it’s silly that I call this four options the “easy way” because, as you can see, none of them are good ones, but in the beginning, they seem so much easier than the alternative. I would never judge or blame anyone for choosing the “easy way” because I think it’s human nature to go this route, and after knowing what the other option has lead me to, I can say there have been so many days when I wanted to get off the train and be done with the journey.

It’s hard, it’s really hard, but what I can tell you is that the Lord is in it. He’s in the pain, He understands why you’re hurting, He understands that your dream doesn’t look the way you thought it should, but He’s asking you to trust Him. Trust Him that He can see beyond what we can see, He knows how the story ends, all we can see is the here and now.

When you're dreaming with God and things start to get hard, this is what could happen if you choose the " easy way " | Faith-Fullness.net

If you chose not to take the “easy way”, the other option is obedience. Next time we’re going to talk about obedience, and how it’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do. At any point you can hop off the train and choose to take the “easy way”, but if you do the hard work I can tell you it’s absolutely worth it.

 

To read the next post in this series, click HERE.

 

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Filed Under: Adoption, Obedience, Series, Walking in Obedience 6 Comments

« Walking in Obedience: Dreaming with God
Walking in Obedience: Choosing Obedience »

Comments

  1. Mimi Moseley says

    February 6, 2017 at 10:12 am

    This was GREAT and so true! I have had the “blaming God” step, but He used it. I was so mad at Him when our house didn’t sell after so many months on the market. The verse, “The anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” really got to me. If God could fix this and wasn’t…and I was angry…what do I do with that anger? My husband wasn’t to blame. The real estate agent wasn’t to blame. So what was I to do with that anger?
    I believe God gives us the emotion of anger but we are not to take that out on man. So I took that anger back to the One who gave it to me. I told Him I knew He could fix this and I felt abandoned by Him. It was probably the most transparent I had ever been with Him and I think He was pleased that I was being so real. Within twenty minutes of me “being real” with Him, He showed me He had never left me but was with me the entire time of my fear.
    I look back on that time and would do it all over again when I saw the result. Today different fears come my way, but He is faithful to never leave or forsake me. Whew!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      February 6, 2017 at 10:25 am

      So good, Mimi. And what a great verse, I’m going to have to look that one up! It’s definitely a good one to hold onto. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jim says

    February 6, 2017 at 10:20 am

    Yes yes yes!!!
    Thanks for these clear reminders … you are revealing the truth of what is really happening on a journey that sometimes can be so clouded and confusing.
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Anna says

      February 6, 2017 at 10:25 am

      Thank you Jim!

      Reply
  3. Lanise says

    February 6, 2017 at 3:24 pm

    Really good! I love the imagery of the train passing through the station and being careful to not get off before we reach God’s destination for us and our dream.

    Reply
    • Anna says

      February 7, 2017 at 9:13 am

      Thank you Lanise. 🙂

      Reply

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Meet Anna

Hi, I'm Anna! Wife, mother, child of God, and the founder of Faith|Fullness. The pages of this blog are filled with my journeys of faith and the adventures that saying "yes" to God have taken me on. Read More…

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Hi, I'm Anna! Wife, mother, child of God, and the founder of Faith|Fullness. The pages of this blog are filled with my journeys of faith and the adventures that saying "yes" to God have taken me on. Read More…

Find me on Instagram – @anna_m_moseley

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So proud of our girl! A quick weekend trip to the So proud of our girl! A quick weekend trip to the Reno T&T gymnastics competition, resulted in 2 medals for Malea!! A bronze in Tumble Track and a silver in Double Mini. 
We also discovered Emilia has mad skills at Fuze ball, and she scooped Matt. 🤣 
We are proud parents, Malea now has 2 competitions under her belt, and 4 metals to show for it! 👏🏻 👊🏻👏🏻
#MaleaElizabeth
I never post political stuff but Zelensky's speech I never post political stuff but Zelensky's speech this morning, broke my heart. I don't understand how we are not doing something to help these people out. I know if we had someone bombing our country, we would demand help from others, how can we just sit back and watch this happens. My heart is breaking for President Zelensky and the burden he's carrying right now. If you haven't watched the speech from this morning, please take the time to watch it, it's powerful, and heartbreaking. 

"Today my age stopped when the hearts of more than 100 children stopped beating. I see no sense in life, if it means it cannot stop the deaths." - Zelensky
Day 8 - Our last day. 😢 After packing we headed Day 8 - Our last day. 😢 After packing we headed back to Makena beach to take in our last waves, and Malea found some big ones. 
🌊
After a couple hours we said our goodbyes to the waves (and the chickens at the beach) and as we walked away I wondered if it would be another 20 years until I get to be here, and how much life has happened since I had been there last. It really is amazing how time flies. 
🌊
Next we went back into Kihei for lunch, some last minute shopping, and a must-stop, for me, Cones on Kihei, where my cousin worked when we lived here. The smell of the  freshly made cones took me right back, and they still had my favorite flavor!! It was fun to get to share this delicious treat with the girls. 
🌊
Then it was back to the condo to get cleaned up and ready to leave. I am so grateful for our time here, the hours at the beach, the beautiful meals, and watching how much the girls loved so many of the things I love about this island. I hope we get to come back but even if we don’t, my heart is full and I am thankful I got to return and relive/revisit so many things from, what feels like, a lifetime ago. Goodbye Maui! 
@mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer #MaleaElizabeth
Day 7 - Our last full day was probably one of my f Day 7 - Our last full day was probably one of my favorites with a hike out in the lava fields, then snorkeling with Malea, and views of some bright yellow fish before we left. 
🐠
Then we headed into town and had the best sandwiches at @808deli. After lunch the girls were exhausted so we dropped them off and Matt and I walked the beach path in Wailea. We saw lots of whales jumping and even some turtles in the reef. We walked the beach and took in all the beautiful views of this wonderful island. 
🌊 
Next we picked up the girls and headed to Makena beach for some more beach time. The girls played in the waves until we had to pull them from them, so we could go get ready for our luau. 
🌊
We hit the road to Lahaina and headed to the @oldlahainaluau. This was such a good luau, ran like a well oiled machine with stellar service and beautiful dancing, sunsets and the best mocktails of the trip (the girls were in Heaven). 
🌊
Trying not to think about leaving tomorrow, but taking in all the stars and crashing waves, while I still can. 
@mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer #MaleaElizabeth
Day 6 - Lots of birthday celebration! Malea turned Day 6 - Lots of birthday celebration! Malea turned 13 and we celebrated with a little party in the morning, then headed to the waves. 
🥳
We went back to the cove, where the girls surfed for hours and caught lots of waves. Then we had lunch at a beautiful, and delicious food truck park, set in a canopy of trees. 
🥳
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🥳
We celebrated in Lahaina with ribs, for my rib girl, and then of course, Hula Pie. 😋 
🥳
It was the best way to celebrate our baby girl turning 13, and a birthday I’m sure she will always remember. 
@mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer #MaleaElizabeth
Happy 13th birthday to one of my most favorite peo Happy 13th birthday to one of my most favorite people ever. Malea, since the day you were born you have been such a blessing. You love big, you love unconditionally, you live large and you are an over-comer. 
💜
I have learned so much from you, you make me a better person, and I can’t wait to see what this next year has in store for you! Wuv you baby girl!!! 
#MaleaElizabeth
Day 5 - Started the morning with the girls surfing Day 5 - Started the morning with the girls surfing the cove, where I learned to surf. There were tons of other people there taking lessons but the girls had a blast, and caught tons of waves. Malea is officially hooked on surfing. Yay!! 🏄‍♀️ 
🌊
After hours of surfing we headed back to the house for some down time, and then back to Makena Beach to close out the day playing in the waves, and drinking margaritas to celebrate margarita day. 
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We enjoyed a beautiful sunset, and an incredible meal at Hotel Wailea then headed home and were surprised by fireworks! What a perfect way to spend Malea’s birthday eve. 
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Matt and I decorated before bed and then I laid in bed thinking about where I was 12 years ago and how the best gift I’ve ever received came at 11:29pm the next evening. 
@mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer #MaleaElizabeth
Day 4 - Started the day with worship, and our frie Day 4 - Started the day with worship, and our friend’s baptism, at the beach, which was followed by celebration, even by the whales. 
🌊
After the baptisms we picked up surfboards and headed to the waves. It was low tide, so the waves were small, but the girls had a blast and we even got to see more whales.
🌊
Then we headed back to Makena Beach, for some more wave time and found so many chickens! 🐓 8 roosters to be exact ( Malea counted them). 
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Next headed home, and enjoyed wine on the patio, which has been Matt and my afternoon tradition, since we got here. 
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After getting ready for dinner, we did something we used to do, almost every night when we lived here, and watched the sunset from the rock wall, in Kihei across from where we lived. It was so fun getting to experience the magic of the sun setting over the Pacific coast, with my family. 
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After dinner we met up with our friends to talk about the baptism and catch up since we haven’t hung out in awhile. We ended up back at our place, talking late into the night. I am so grateful for how much the Lord has done in all of our lives since we met a few years ago. 
🌊
Tomorrow more surfing and more sun. Maui perfection. 
#MaleaElizabeth @mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer
Day 3 - Started with a 3.4 mile run, with @mmosele Day 3 - Started with a 3.4 mile run, with @mmoseley15, and lots of beautiful views. 
🌊
It was too windy to surf today so instead we headed to Lahaina for lunch (a very messy lunch for my little rib lover) and some shopping.  We scouted out beaches on the way home, and stopped for some fresh fruit at the roadside stand. 
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Everyone was exhausted but we needed some beach time so we finished up the day with the waves at Wailea beach and another beautiful sunset. 
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#MaleaElizabeth @emilia_boehmer
Day 2- my favorite beach, Makena beach. We used to Day 2- my favorite beach, Makena beach. We used to spend hours, and days here, so it was a dream come true to get to spend hours in the waves and on the beach with Matt and Malea yesterday. It’s as beautiful as I remember it and I was so thankful to be back. 
🌊
After hours of beach time it was a food truck lunch, and time to head into Kihei, my old stomping grounds. We took the girls to the open market where they shopped and shopped, then we ended with shaved ice. 
🌊
The day ended with another beautiful sunset and dinner at MonkeyPod Kitchen, with the best Mai Tais we’ve had and Malea trying to convince Emilia to let her teach her how to cube. 🤣
🌊
Tomorrow we surf. 🤗 🏄‍♀️ 
@mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer #MaleaElizabeth
Day 1 (yesterday)- A few thankful tears were shed Day 1 (yesterday)- A few thankful tears were shed when I finally got to sit down in my plane seat, and a huge sigh of relief that we were finally on our way. 
🌊 
It has been 19 years since I’ve been to Maui and I expected so many changes, which some of it has, but so much is also the same, including places we worked and a few favorite spots. 
🌊
But the best part was getting to be here with my family—watch the girls disappear to find the pool, and the beach, and the smiles on their faces as the realization sunk in that we were actually here!! 
🌊
Today I am thank for @mmoseley15 bringing me back here, beautiful sunsets, the Maui air, and upcoming beach time with my family! 
#MaleaElizabeth @mmoseley15 @emilia_boehmer
Not exactly how I planned to spend my day. 😵‍ Not exactly how I planned to spend my day. 😵‍💫 Thankful for the team at Prestige for sewing the top of my thumb back on. Luckily none of it ended up in the soup. 😬🤣
Saying goodbye (for now), last night, to these bea Saying goodbye (for now), last night, to these beautiful people, was one of the hardest things I’ve done in a long time. The neighbors who showed up with brownies the first time we met them, who became friends, who quickly turned into family—secondary parents to Matt and I,  and grandparents to Malea. 
💛
I have grieved and cried whenever I think about them leaving, for weeks, because I don’t know what it will be like without them. They have always been there for us, supported us, asked us how we are doing, even on our darkest days, and they have loved us and cheered us on, encouraged us to keep going because it will all be worth it in the end. 
💛
I will never hear the end of how terrible it was we decided to move to Palo Cedro and “abandon them”, but that didn’t discourage them from showing up with homemade birthday goodies and driving “all the way to the other side of the river” to stop by and see what we’ve been up to, and encourage us with how well we are living out our dream here on our farmstead. 
💛
I am honored they chose to spend their last night with us (even though technically we were 2nd choice 😉) but it was exactly what I needed. Bev, of course brought gifts that spoke to our hearts, and we reminisced, laughed and I think everyone cried at some point. 
💛
Dear friends I am excited for your new adventure, I can’t wait to hear where we need to go next, I can’t wait to “visit” Europe through your pictures, but please don’t forget to come home, you will be missed!!! 💛💛💛
We worked hard this weekend. 💪🏻 Our amazing We worked hard this weekend. 💪🏻 Our amazing house church showed up and helped us run all the electrical in the back garage—can lights, outlets, fans, exterior lights, etc! We finished so quickly that one couple decided to stay and help us frame out the storage room. 👏🏻
Today Matt and I added the door and a few other things, so now the room is ready for sheetrock! 👊🏻 A weekend of hard work and it ended with a beautiful sunset. Game room should be done in the next couple of months. 🙌🏻
#weekendwarriors #diy
Such a fun weekend away to Mt. Shasta, to celebrat Such a fun weekend away to Mt. Shasta, to celebrate Matt’s birthday. 
I am thankful for the beautiful place we live, friends who are as ridiculous as we are, amazing food, hilarious games, and most importantly my husband—who is definitely with celebrating. 
@mmoseley15 @kah_rhis_10
So this happened. 🏦 I still can’t even beli So this happened. 
🏦 
I still can’t even believe it. I am so thankful to finally be able to talk about this with people, because I am so proud of Matt! 
🏦 
When I first met Matt he told me his dream was to be the president of a bank someday, and here we are, in 6 months he will be. I am so proud of how hard he has worked to get to this place, never taking the easy way, always taking the strategic path, even if it meant taking less pay, a lower title, or doing the work of multiple people to make sure something got done well. 
🏦 
This is a dream come true, a promise of the Lord fulfilled, and I can’t wait to see what this next season holds for us. 
Congratulations Matt, you deserve this, and thank you Jeff, for paving the way, and being such an incredible boss, leader, and mentor for Matt. 
#FaithandFullness #faithfulness
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