Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Whitney Bohn, and I am a child of God, a wife, a mother, a worrier, and the queen of “what if?”  I share this because when I speak about obedience to God, I want to be clear, obedience does not come easily for me. I shudder when I think about the many times I have hesitated, questioned, or outright resisted what the Lord was asking of me. Obedience is a muscle God has been patiently strengthening in me, and in our family, for many years.

In fact, our family mantra has become “take the next obedient step.” It is written on a board and placed on a shelf in our home as a daily reminder that faithfulness is often found not in the big picture, but in the very next step.

Over the past decade, the Lord has invited our family into steps that have completely altered the course of our lives. Some of those steps were met with almost immediate affirmation and provision. Others felt like stepping into the deep, dark unknown… places where clarity was absent, and trust was required. Some decisions felt rational, while others felt completely insane.

My internal dialogue usually sounds something like this: “You want me to do what? Right now? Wouldn’t this make more sense in a few years? Surely, I’m hearing You wrong.”

But what I have learned is this: obedience is rarely about perfect timing or our human abilities. It is about surrender. It is about laying down our comfort, our plans, and our sense of control for the glory of God. His purposes and His promises will prevail. The question is whether we are willing to participate.

Many of you know that our family opened our home to foster care last year. I heard that call from the Lord first, and I immediately replied, “That sounds wonderful, but it isn’t the right time. Alex just started seminary, and there is no way he’s going to agree to this. If You want this to happen, You’re going to have to speak to him Yourself.”

Three months later, Alex sat me down and shared what he had clearly heard from the Lord during a men’s conference. It was time for us to start praying about adoption.

While I had always carried a quiet longing to adopt, foster care was never part of my plan. Foster care is based on reunification. It felt too hard. Too risky. Too painful. Again, obedience rarely aligns with our comfort zones. It stretches us, exposes our weakness, and invites us to rely on God in ways we never would otherwise.

And I can tell you honestly, it is hard. I have often felt like Hannah, weeping and crying out to the Lord. But the little boy we have the privilege of loving is worth it. This child has brought unimaginable joy into our home this past year. Our family is forever changed for the better. While his future is uncertain and completely out of our hands, we are praying bold, faith-filled prayers on his behalf. But even if those prayers are not answered in the way we believe they should be, God is still good.

Hebrews 11 reminds us of the heroes of faith and their obedience. It reminds us that obedience does not guarantee outcomes we understand, but it does anchor us to a God who is faithful. The Lord uses our obedience for His glory, even when the results look different from what we imagined.

So, the heart-level question remains: Is that enough for me? Am I willing to step out in faith and trust God with the results? Do I believe that He is who He says He is?

If the answer is yes, then no matter the outcome, God is enough.

All He asks is that we take the next obedient step.