- Andy Neillie
- Jun 15
- 3 min read
Spiritual Essential: Obedience
Doing What You Don’t Naturally Want To DoI had hip replacement surgery at a younger age than most people. The doctor said too many athletic endeavors combined with not enough stretching for many years meant I ended up in the operating room with decades of use expected for this “lifetime replacement” hip. And to make sure it had the best opportunity to become part of my body, physical therapy started almost immediately after the surgery.
No one loves physical therapy“I love physical therapy” said no one ever after major surgery. The pain - and fear at times - of doing the stretching and mobility the therapist was asking of me made me concerned that I couldn’t do it, and that I’d never get adequate strength and range of motion back.
But here’s what I learned quickly: The very things I didn’t want to do were the exact things I needed to do. Left to my own instincts, I would have avoided the pain. I would have protected the joint. I would have stayed in a narrow range of motion that felt safe. And in doing so, I would have limited my long-term recovery. I had a choice: trust my instinct or trust the therapists.
Courage in the Physical RealmSeveral years post-surgery, I found myself in a CrossFit gym, working on movements like the back squat. My coach pointed out something I didn’t want to hear: my form wasn’t good. I wasn’t going deep enough, and I was compensating in ways that would limit both my strength and my safety.
My coach’s prescription was to take all the weight off the bar and simply work on my form. At first I resisted that idea. After all, I could lift more weight. Why go backward?
But again, I was faced with the same decision: Do what feels natural or do what is necessary. So I stripped the bar, went light, and rebuilt the movement.
It required more than a bit of humility. It also required some courage. At some level, I was afraid to go deep in my squat. Would I be strong enough? Would the replacement parts do their job? It felt safer to stay shallow, even though I wasn’t getting the true benefit of the movement.
Courage in the Spiritual RealmThat same dynamic shows up in our spiritual lives. In Joshua 1:7–9, God speaks directly to Joshua as he prepares to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land:
“Be strong and very courageous… Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you… Do not turn from it to the right or to the left… Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
God doesn’t just tell Joshua to be obedient. He tells him that obedience will require courage. In fact, the phrase “be strong and courageous” appears nine times in the Bible - and seven of those are directed specifically to Joshua.
Which makes you wonder: Maybe Joshua needed more courage than we tend to assume. Or perhaps God knew something we often forget: Obedience is rarely natural.
Doing What You Don’t Want To DoSpiritually, obedience often means forgiving when you’d rather hold on, speaking truth when silence feels safer, stepping forward when fear says step back.
Just like physical therapy. Just like training correctly in the gym. You are being asked to do what does not feel natural in the moment for the sake of something better in the long run.
And that’s where courage comes in.
Whether in fitness or faith, growth is not accidental. It is chosen and practiced. Often, it is uncomfortable. People who grow - the ones who develop real strength of character and conviction - are not the ones who follow their instincts. They are the ones who have the courage to override them.
Questions for Reflection:
When you think about obedience (to God, to truth, or to what you know is right), what specifically creates fear or resistance?
Where are you currently avoiding something you know you should do because it feels uncomfortable, difficult, or unnatural?
What would it look like for you to “be strong and courageous” in one specific situation you are facing right now? What is the next right step?