When Faith Hurts: Learning the Difference Between Stepping Out and Standing Still

"Faith doesn't always feel good. Sometimes it's stepping out. Sometimes it's standing still. Both require trust––and both stretch you."

There are moments when you feel an undeniable pull towards someone–– a longing so deep it feels spiritual.

You wonder: Is God asking me to move? Or is He asking me to trust and be still?

I recently wrestled though this very question. It wasn't easy. It still isn't. But it's becoming holy ground for my heart.

The Crossroads of Faith: Move or Wait?

When you care deeply for someone, your heart naturally leans towards reaching out––making something happen, easing the ache. And yet, faith isn't just about movement. Sometimes the greatest acts of faith happen in our stillness.

I found myself caught between two powerful desires:

• One: To step out, send a message, open a door.

  
  

• Two: To remain still, pray silently, and trust that if something is meant by God, He will breathe life into it Himself.

Both paths required faith. One was faith expressed through action. The other was faith expressed through surrender. But which one was God inviting me into?

How to Discern: A Gentle "Peace Test"

I sat quietly and imagined two scenarios:

• Reaching out.

  
  

• Remaining still.

I paused after each and listened carefully:

Where was there peace, even if my heart hurt?

Where was there urgency and fear, pushing me rather than leading me?

The answer was undeniable: Peace lived in the waiting. Painful? Absolutely.

But peaceful, scared, and protected. Choosing to be still wasn't an act of fear. It was an act of love–– for God, for myself, and for the story He is writing.

Faithful Action vs. Faithful Stillness

Sometimes stepping out in faith looks like sending the text, making that call, opening the door, risking vulnerability. Other times, stepping out in faith looks like closing your hands, laying your longing at the altar, and whispering, "God, if this is Your will, bring it back in Your way, in Your time."

Faith is not measured by our movement.

Faith is measured by our trust.

Faith trusts that God can move mountains–– hearts, circumstances, even time itself––without us forcing the outcome.

What God Showed Me

Through this emotional wrestle, I sensed a whisper deep in my spirit:

"You do not have to chase what is already written. You do not have to strive for what is sealed by My spirit. Stand still. Trust Me. I am fighting for your heart."

The scriptures that anchored me were:

• Isaiah 40:31:

  "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength..."

  
  

• Psalm 37:4:

  "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

  
  

• Colossians 3:15:

  "Let peace of Christ rule in your hearts..."

Peace, not panic, is God's language.

If You Are Wrestling Too

If you're feeling torn between stepping out and standing still, I encourage you to ask yourself:

• Is my spirit being led by peace or pushed by fear?

  
  

• Am I trusting God to move if it's His will?

  
  

• Am I honoring the vow to put God first in my desires?

Choosing stillness doesn't mean choosing defeat. It means choosing sacred surrender. It means believing that love, real love, will not have to be chased––it will be confirmed by the Spirit of God Himself.

A Prayer for This Season

"Father, when my heart aches and my longing pulls me, anchor me in Your peace. Help me choose trust over striving, stillness over fear. I surrender my desires at your feet. If it is Your will, resurrect what is meant to live. If not, heal my heart and lead me forward. I trust Your timing, Your way, and Your love above all. In Jesus name. Amen."

Final Reflection

Faith isn't proven by how loudly we move. Sometimes, the strongest faith is in how quietly we trust. And God always, always honors the heart that chooses Him first––no matter how much it hurts, no matter how long it takes. Sometimes the loudest act of faith is not a shout––it's, "I trust You enough to be still." When we choose God's way over our own urgency, He meets us there––not with shame, but with arms full of promises still unfolding. And when you strip everything away, all we are really given in this life is time and choices. Time––to wait, to heal, to hope, to love, to serve. Choices––to trust, to surrender, to obey. How we spend our time and what we choose to do with it reveals who––and Whose––we really are. So hold on, your story is still being written. And so is mine. We are held in His greatness.