…when obedience looks nothing like the world does…
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
As this new school year unfolds, I’ve found myself scrolling through social media, seeing my former colleagues’ bright, beautiful faces and wondering: “Should that still be me?” “What if I had just stayed?”
These are perfectly normal questions after leaving a thriving twenty-year career. But as I sat with those thoughts, the Lord whispered to me: Write about it.
Because these feelings—of being left behind, of questioning, of comparing—aren’t just mine. They’re often the experience of anyone who has stepped out in faith and obeyed the unmistakable call of the Lord.
Hearing His Voice
When I say call, I don’t mean a vague feeling or a subtle nudge. I have heard His audible voice. I have felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit with crystal clarity. When He says move, I move—without hesitation.
However, following His voice isn’t without cost. It isn’t without moments of doubt, or wild new circumstances, or the stretching discomfort of a completely different life. It isn’t always easy to walk away from the life I thought I wanted—the career I built, the accolades, the carefully crafted plans for the future.
Recently, I heard a beloved Bible teacher—anointed, deeply studied, and rich in theological commentary—say she had never heard the audible voice of God. I froze. Because… I hear Him. I ask. I listen. I ask again, sometimes like a persistent child who just can’t let go of a question. When He answers, His responses are often profound, puzzling, and deeply humbling.
Ultimately, I bring nothing to His table. He has already set it. My only role is to sit, to receive, and to obey.
Devoid of Self
To walk in true obedience—to hear and follow the voice of the Lord—I’ve had to become devoid of self.
Devoid of ambition.
Devoid of pride.
Devoid of retirement goals.
Devoid of plans.
It feels counterintuitive. The world praises independence, ambition, and success. I am a highly educated woman, a multi-degree graduate, and for years my identity was wrapped up in the pomp and circumstance of accomplishment. Oh but then, the Lord began peeling that away, teaching me that anything separating me from Him is a stumbling block.
Grace-given salvation is a gift. However, a life surrendered to Jesus is the calling, and salvation and surrender are not the same.
Counting the Cost
(Read: Luke 14:25–33, Matthew 16:24–26)
Is it possible that, to know, hear, and follow Jesus, we must be willing to leave behind everything we’ve ever achieved?
Is it possible that the pursuit of Him means letting go of the definitions of success we’ve clung to for so long?
I believe it is. Because to follow the One who bore our every iniquity, we must grab onto Him with empty hands. There’s no room for pride or pretense when we take up our cross daily.
Make no mistake: there is always a cost to pay. The flesh will resist. The mind will replay false ideals. But inside surrender—real surrender—He makes all things new.
I have been reset, renewed, and restored to know my Shepherd and follow His voice. Thankfully, I’ve found that even when He calls me out of familiar places and well-laid plans, there is nothing more spectacular than saying Yes to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Scripture Study
Reflect and meditate on these passages:
- Matthew 16:24–26 – Take up your cross and follow Me.
- Luke 14:25–33 – Count the cost of following Jesus.
- John 10:27 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
- Proverbs 3:5–6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Challenge for the Week
Ask yourself:
- What ambitions, plans, or identities is the Lord asking me to lay down so I can follow Him fully?
- Am I willing to let go of what I do to cling to the One who knows me?
Each day, pray:
“Lord, make me sensitive to Your voice. Teach me to release my plans and follow You, no matter the cost.”
Prayer
Father, I lay down my ambitions, my pride, my plans, and my ideals of success. Strip away everything that keeps me from hearing You clearly. I surrender my identity to You, knowing You make all things new. Help me to follow Your voice faithfully and to count the cost without fear. My life, my yes, my future—all belong to You. Amen.
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Below is a song that my friend Brandon Pope wrote and plays including Psalm 69. I hope you love it as much as I do:
“Find My Way” Psalm 69 Song by Brandon Pope
The Aging English Major 