I knew the dishwasher was full. I just didn’t want to deal with it.

You know the kind of day. Nothing huge goes wrong, but everything feels like a bit much. And there it is—the blinking light, reminding me that someone has to step up. I stood there for a moment, hoping it wouldn’t have to be me.

That’s when I remembered something Jesus said: “If you love me, you’ll keep my commands.”

Not just when it’s easy. Not just when we’re feeling inspired. But in the ordinary, overlooked, frustrating moments. Love, in the way Jesus talks about it, looks a lot like quiet obedience.

We don’t always think of faith in those terms. We like the idea of loving God with our hearts, our songs, our good intentions. But Jesus ties love to action. Real love shows up in what we choose to do, especially when it costs us something.

It’s easy to say we love Jesus – it's harder to love Him in the middle of a tired moment, or when we’d rather run with our own plans, or when what He asks of us costs more than we want to give.

But He doesn’t leave room for shortcuts. If we love Him, we follow Him. We don’t get to rewrite His words to suit our preferences or schedule. We’re called to obey, not just when it’s convenient.

If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, or like prayer’s turned into a one-sided conversation, you’re not alone. Sometimes we’re not really asking for God’s will—we’re asking Him to bless our version of it. But God leads us back to what Jesus actually said and then He helps us live it.

So if you’ve been waiting on a big spiritual sign, maybe take another look at the dishwasher. Or the apology that’s overdue. Or the quiet task no one sees but you. That’s often where obedience starts.

Your invitation this week: don’t ask God for a new direction. Ask for the grace to follow the one He’s already given.

God bless,
-FF