Has anybody asked you lately, “How are you doing with God?
Does your spirit feel at peace or are you restless?
Does something fight within, but you can’t put your finger on it to settle the tremors? Usually when I feel this way, God is trying to tell me something.
I experienced this a few years ago when I was working outside our home. It was the one small paying job on my daily eclectic list of things to do.(I have many daily “jobs” but none pay me a salary.) It only took an hour or so of my day, but I felt a pressing in my spirit.
I knew I had to quit, but I’m no quitter! It was a hard decision because it involved helping someone in need, yet I knew I had to quit that job out of obedience to God.
It’s hard to put obedience and sacrifice in perspective.
As Christians, we often hold the mind-set that we must sacrifice to please God. Doesn’t God want me to sacrifice my time and talents for others in need?
This scripture puts obedience and sacrifice in perspective:
Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he delights in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams (1Samuel 15:22).
After letting go of my job, I discovered peace, joy, and productivity. I’m actually doing what I’m passionate about doing and enjoying it. I admit I’ve felt a little guilt enjoying my work so much. But I know I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing.
Obedience. One day at a time. Obedience even when it doesn’t make worldly sense.
The job I quit was my one small pay check I got twice a month. My neighbor needed my help. But [tweetability]God is greater than any pay check and any need.[/tweetability] I must trust Him for my life and for hers.
I’ve discovered that God’s call (99% of the time) does not make sense from our worldly perspective. But [tweetability]I’ve found time and time again that when I’m stressed, frustrated, too busy, and irritable, I need to sit and listen to the One who is trying to show me the better way.[/tweetability]
So, back to my original question: “How are you doing with God?”
Do you have time to be with Him?
Are you able to do the things that you are passionate about or are you too busy? I believe God gave you that passion and gifting for an eternal purpose. It might not be for money, but it is definitely for The Kingdom.
Has God been whispering in your spirit wisdom to let something go?
Can you trust Him?
YES!
With Joy,
Do not store up treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).
I want to expeirnece Jesus so much. I want to be close to Him. He is always in my mind. I just want Him. When i feel Im tring to press into God and He isnt responding or I feel Im not trying enough I get reallly rustrated with myself and I stop. I noticed once when i felt rejected by God I wanted to put makeup and dress up. Then lust & vanity kicks in alot!!! Its crazy. I can feel inside im restless. I try to be still in Him but its hard then i feel frustrated because I cant be still. He used to talk to me frequently I then have gone through alot of trials/testing and He became quiet.
Hi Michelle, Even when it doesn’t feel like he’s with you, he is. Don’t trust your feelings, trust Scripture. The Lord will never leave you or forsake you. I know the feeling that when you need him most, you can’t feel him. I don’t know why that happens, but when it does, journal your prayers. Read scripture and listen to worship. Light a candle or go for a walk. All of these things help me feel him again. I’ll be praying for you. -Andy
I immigrated and my husband left and divorced. We lived in a place where I was part of a church but then we moved to be closer to family..
Since I have felt so unsettled! I always feel like I need to move back to where I used to live. But 4 years on we have a semblance of life here, my daughter and I. But I still feel unsettled and not at home.
Thank you for your article, it was so helpful!
Hi Lissa! I’m so glad you found the article and found it helpful. It sounds like you have been through so much. Keep a faithfulness journal of all God is doing. I will be praying for you!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it. God Bless :)
I know God’s calling me.
I’m still a student, and sometimes I want to live like my other mates, but I can’t.
I scared of what the future holds. I can be a normal girl without feeling guilty. I read through other people’s comment but my restless is kind of different. Everything I do doesn’t seem right but I also want to be normal. I am tired of fighting with myself, I really don’t know what to do.
Dear Cozabella, I will pray for you to have someone who shares your faith and convictions. It’s hard to do it alone. In my experience when I was your age, I always regretted when I let myself live my life like everyone else. Because of the sin I allowed in my life, I think my defenses were down and at a very opportune time I chose to stop believing in Jesus. I ran from the Lord for a year. It was an awful time. I was empty. When I cam back to my conviction of the power and truth of the Bible and faith in God, I was filled with His Spirit and joy. I will be praying for you! Stand firm. The Lord has great purposes for you.
Hi Andy please will you also pray for me as I’ve strayed from God and the Bible as well and I’ve been severely depressed for 3 years since my mum’s death. Please will you pray for me to receive the Holy Spirit. Thankyou Louise
Dear Louise, I am so sorry for the loss of your mum. I know grief all too well. I will pray for you to run back to the Lord and experience his gentle love. I will also pray for you to find a church/small group/ or Bible study so other believers can encourage you. I’ll be praying. -Andy
Thanks Andy. Please will you pray for me to have a devout Christian husband also as I would like to serve the Lord in marriage. I’ve been reading Genesis 24:67 NIV lately:
67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.
Thank you so much for your prayers x
I will pray for you, Louise, to have a godly husband one day!
Miss Andy,
Firstly, I want to thank God for the kind spirit you have! Secondly, I want to share this testimony.
For the past few weeks I had been fighting restlessness. God knew, my family knew, and I knew it too but didn’t know what else to do after binding + rebuking.
I Googled the cause of restlessness and found this article today. At the point of a breakdown, I read this article and your responses about not trying to figure it out and being open to the Spirit’s leading.
This had been a battle since March 2017. God moved me from Iowa to Ohio to heal from over ten years of abuse, but in the Presence of God I was wrestling with Him as I kept waging war against worthlessness and fear of failure.
Finally in the past few weeks I’ve been (and will continue being) still before God to hear Him + examine my heart motives.
In prayer this morning I asked Abba about my “fleece” being laid out. The answer I was looking for was a specific job He told me to apply for. Just after reading this article fear and doubt tried to attack, so I just broke down and told God, “Okay! I really don’t know right now. I am angry. I don’t know what you’re doing, and I just dont get it!” Right then, heaviness broke and I began to worship Him. I heard “Forever Safe” by Vertical Worship.
During less than ten minutes of worship I received an email saying the company wanted a (same day) phone interview with me. Took the interview, have a second tomorrow and I decree by Faith is it mine!
To sum it all up, God gets all the GLORY!! I will definitely subscribe to this blog and I am beyond grateful for what God has done, and for this on time Word!
Praise God!!!! The place of peace is a place of trust that he has good plans for you. Praying for you! Trust the open doors and closed ones. God uses everything. Thank you for sharing!
I have become very uncomfortable as the year starts. I know change is inevitable and I’ve dealt with so many different emotions that I’m unsure of what God is preparing me for. I know everyone can’t go to the next level with me but Im trying to convince God they can 🤔 I have been at my current job since 2012 and I love it! But changes have made me very uncomfortable after I heard God say completion but I’m all over the place as to where I’m going next. I’ve become restless trying to figure it out.
Latoya, I know exactly how that feels. I was there this past summer. Stop trying to figure it out. Be open and ready for God to do His thing. Let Him lead. What He led me to was not what I expected or wanted. It’s been incredibly challenging yet at the same time life-giving. It may look like a step back but trust Him. I’ll be praying for you. -Andy
I don’t even know where to start. I have a lot to say but I’ll keep it short. I’ve been restless and unstable most of my life. Always in searching. Always on the move. I can’t sit still. I’ve job hopped since I was able to work. Longest I’ve held a job was a year. The state I live in I don’t think I’ve ever felt happy. Wish I could talk in person or something lol. I have a lot to say. This doesn’t even do it justice. I just feel like where I’m at isn’t where I’m suppose to live. I can’t even settle in. Looks bad on my job history and everything. I know it will all turn out for good one day. One day I’ll be where I’m suppose to. For now, here I am. I do have 1 poetry book out called Distant on amazon and still continue to write with another book out next year. It’s christian poetry. Anyways, I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed. God gave me signs for out west. So I left to go out there. I didn’t start feeling any peace until I got out there. I felt a little better like I was headed in the right direction. Where I’m at currently, I feel no peace at all. I feel all emotions. Stressed, restless, angry sometimes, frustrated, not focused. You name it. I’m doing my best though. What do I do? I know it’s not a lot of info. This is just a small portion.
Dear Kyle, I’m sorry for the restlessness you’ve felt for so long. I’ve known such restlessness too, but I’ve also experienced His peace and seen His hand in every detail. The Lord loves you. The Lord has a plan and purpose right where you are, and He can use your restlessness for good. I sense a battle going on, and the best way to fight spiritual warfare is worship and thanksgiving. Don’t move, don’t quit, don’t leave until God shuts the door or opens a new one. Ask Him to give you His grace to LIVE right where you are. I wrote a book called A Mary Like Me: Flawed Yet Called. I think it might help you find the peace and direction you are looking for. I’ll look up your book on Amazon. It’s a new year! Make it one of worship. The peace will come.
Hi Andy, I just came across this article today and I’m really struggling with a choice I have. I have an ex boyfriend with whom things ended badly. The relationship didn’t last long, but we tried to remain friends after breaking up. Later on he told me that he had gotten into a toxic relationship so naturally I tried to give him advice and help. Well, i still had feelings for him and that didn’t help matters. He ended up choosing to stay in the relationship and cut off all communication with me. I wanted answers so I found ways to contact him to ask what his reasons were. I just couldn’t bring myself to believe he didn’t care about me at all, because we only broke up because of the timing. He finally answered me but his answers were never enough and I found myself behaving irrationally. I would make different social media accounts, etc. to contact him. I recently realized that I behaved this way because I have a certain type of OCD that most people don’t think of when they think “OCD.” Now that I know what the issue is, i can seek help for it. What I’m struggling with is that I feel like I’m at a crossroads about telling him. I want him to know that I’m not “crazy”. I actually have this condition and am working on getting help. I have prayed about it a lot and I feel like maybe God wants me to wait. This has been bothering me so badly I’m just not sure what to do. I can’t seem to just let it go knowing that he does not know the reasons why. I know you may not have an exact answer, but any Godly advice I can get is appreciated…Thank you. Sara
Hi Sara,
I’m so sorry for your heartache and worry. Waiting is the very best thing. Pray for God to help you trust that He loves you. One of my favorite prayers is for God to redeem my mistakes. Let Him redeem it. Try to get involved with a ministry helping others. I’ll be praying for you. -Andy
I’ve been restless for sometime. I’m living in Michigan, but I’ve been wrestling in my spirit to head back to Chicago where I am originally from. I’ve asked God for wisdom. I also have been looking at my situation. My car is down, I will be heading to my oldest sister’s house where I originally left from and many other things. I believe I’m trying to make sure I cover myself if it turns out to be another wrong decision. Please give me a little insight.
Hi Joanne, I feel like God wants me to tell you that He loves you. You are cherished, chosen, and destined for His eternal purposes. Ask for a fleece for wisdom. maybe that fleece is applying for a job and letting that opened or closed door be your answer. I do think He allows our restlessness to stir us to realize the new direction He has for us. Maybe going back to your sisters will bring closure or healing. Praying for you. Remember that He works all things for good.
Yes, yes, yes. I’ve been involved in a school fundraising program for more than 10 years. I’m its biggest cheerleader and an anchor of its success. They call me the scrip lady around town for all I do for the program. But my focus has changed and I want to spend more time on my blog and my teaching. I still believe strongly in the program but I need to start stepping away. This will take some time because I wear several hats in the organization. You didn’t need to know all this, but your post sort of triggered my decision that yes, it is time. Thanks Andy. BTW, I loved Lauren’s blog!
Yay! I’m so excited for you. Thanks for reading my Lauren’s blog. I love it too. :)