Growth is beautiful, but it doesn’t always feel that way in the beginning. Sometimes, it looks like walking away from what’s familiar with wobbly legs and a heart that’s still full of questions. When God calls upon us to walk into something deeper, He doesn’t always hand us a detailed map. But He always gives us Himself. Hebrews 11:8 (NLT) says, “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.” That part — “without knowing where he was going” — speaks to many of us. We want the promise, but we wrestle with the process. But when we talk about faith—real, in-living-color faith, trust me—it’s not about having it all figured out. It’s about learning to trust while the details are still blurry.
Stirred for Something Greater
For many of us, the tug toward growth doesn’t always come in a loud moment. Sometimes it’s that behind-the-scenes unrest that you can’t quite put your finger on. It’s that spiritual discontent that whispers, “There’s more than this.” You may be working a job that pays well but drains your soul. Or you’ve outgrown certain conversations, relationships, even mindsets. And the Holy Spirit begins to challenge the way you’ve always done things. Isaiah 43:19 (NLT) captures this beautifully: “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?” God doesn’t shake us up to embarrass us. He does it to break us open, to make room for the new thing He’s already set in motion.
Fear and Obedience, the Tension
Obedience doesn’t always come easy, especially when fear is sitting in the passenger seat. When God starts calling you higher, fear will try to convince you to stay exactly where you are. But real faith makes room for God to lead, and this isn’t always easy when we’re trembling from past trauma and pain. Philippians 4:7 (NLT) is our refocus strategy. It says, “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” This kind of peace doesn’t show up when everything makes sense. It shows up when you’ve said “yes” without knowing how everything will unfold. Faith doesn’t always have a neat and pretty backdrop. Sometimes things are crazy, but when God calls, our obedience unlocks a flow of grace we didn’t even know we needed.
Pruned for the Promise
Choosing growth means letting God deal with what’s been quietly growing in the background — fear, insecurity, comparison, and old wounds you’ve learned how to function around. You won’t get a standing ovation for healing what broke you—it’s invisible to most folks, but it’s where the real shift happens. God sees it though, and He honors it. Jesus Christ tells us in John 15:2 (NLT) “He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” This pruning isn’t punishment—it’s preparation. Preparation for more clarity, more weight in the Spirit, and more lasting fruit. And sure, it might not look flashy on the outside right away, but deep roots are what produce real harvests, the kind that endure.
You might still feel unqualified and unsure about what lies ahead, but the same God who called you is the same God who covers you. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) reminds us, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Our Heavenly Father isn’t asking you to have it all together. He’s just asking you to show up. Present enough to say yes. Present enough to release what’s no longer working. Present enough to let go of fear and take hold of Him instead. That’s the place where you lay it down, and God lifts you up. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Choosing Growth When God Calls You to More” written by Rev. Fran Mack. Edits by Kim Times and K. Lizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.
