Obedience to God and pierced ears

Over the past ten years, God has healed deep wounds and strengthened my relationship with Him. Currently, God is speaking to me about a new level of obedience. God has already dealt with obedience in areas like addiction. Now, He is fine-tuning my heart. Just as a high-performance car requires careful tuning to run at its best, God is tuning my heart for a deeper connection with Him. ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.’ (John 10:27, NLT) He is guiding me into a deeper relationship with Him, where even the smallest decisions matter. Decisions now stem from growing trust in God’s voice, not a need to control. This journey fills me with a peaceful hope and deep reassurance.

I pierced my left ear in my early twenties. Two years after I had my ears pierced, a new pastor arrived at the church. From the start, he expressed his disapproval of the piercings. He even referenced slaves wearing earrings and asked if I was one of them. This would go on for weeks. I asked him to stop; he kept persisting. Eventually, I took my earrings out because I felt pressured and undervalued. He was looking at my outer appearance rather than my heart.

The pain from that season lingered. Years later, it resurfaced in a new form. Sometimes we bury pain under logic or rebellion, thinking we have moved on, but it often resurfaces in ways we do not expect. ‘The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’ (1 Samuel 16:7, NLT).

The issue resurfaced after getting my ears pierced again. As time passed, I had my second piercings in my lobes, helix, and nose done. My underlying rebelliousness and lingering resentment fueled my refusal to let anyone dictate my actions, even those who had spoken over my life decades ago.

But when we make choices without God, we risk acting out of selfishness, unaware of the spiritual consequences. Initially, I didn’t realise how much that decision was holding me back. I neglected to pray or seek God’s guidance; I didn’t trust God with the decision. Following my heart resulted in unforeseen consequences. Now I see how trusting the Lord with all my heart, rather than leaning on my understanding, is the only way to avoid carrying burdens He never intended for me. As I seek His will in everything, including piercings, He shows me which path to take, even when the path may seem a little foggy.

 Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us and was given to us by God. We do not belong to ourselves (1 Corinthians 6:19, NLT). I believe every choice we make concerning our physical health and what we allow into our lives has a direct impact on our spiritual journey, even when we’re not fully aware of it. The food we eat, the tattoos we choose, how we manage stress, the music we listen to, and the movies we watch all shape our spiritual sensitivity. These choices influence the condition of our hearts and how closely we walk with God.

The choice of getting my new piercings symbolised my freedom from the Pastor’s authority. Not realising my actions were in defiance. I hadn’t considered how the piercing affected my relationship with God. I had to learn a deeper level of submission, one that aligns with the Holy Spirit. In a recent blog titled ‘Not the Good Samaritan,’ I wrote, “We must ensure your heart is in tune with the Holy Spirit.” That truth keeps returning to me.

Obedience flows from a heart that is tuned to God’s voice, not just from outward actions. God does not rush us into surrender. He draws us with patience and love until our hearts hear Him again. Before we decide about anything, our hearts must be soft and ready to follow His promptings. Today, when you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts. (Hebrews 3:15, NLT).

In early 2025, God spoke clearly to me, telling me to remove them because He wants me to be set apart for Him. Over a short period, I had to remove my nose ring because it got infected. I was unaware of how much discomfort my nose ring brought me until I took it out. I kept ignoring God. The loudness of God’s voice left me with no option but to remove all my piercings. Looking back, I realise these moments were part of that same tuning. God was adjusting the parts of my life that had become misaligned, gently removing what was interfering with His design for me. As each piercing came out, it was like He was resetting the engine of my heart to run freely again.

The next morning, I noticed that my ears were no longer sore, and my sleep had become deeper. It’s easy to overlook the spiritual weight we carry when it becomes familiar. I hadn’t realised how much unrest I had accepted as normal until it lifted.

Have you ever carried something for so long that you forgot what peace felt like?

That morning, I felt a peace I hadn’t known in a long time. It came quietly and settled deep within my heart; something had shifted. The weight I’d been carrying was gone, and I could finally breathe without strain.

Soon after, God gave me a clear vision: a non-profit linked to my blog and newsletter that I am starting. This organisation will provide free Christian resources and create a supportive space for people to grow in their faith. Its purpose is not only to encourage spiritual transformation, but also to meet practical needs. It will provide food, clothing, and help in connecting with essential services. It will initially operate from home, to expand as God leads.

Obedience isn’t about rules or restrictions; it’s about a relationship. God didn’t ask me to remove my piercings because He’s concerned with outward appearance, but because He’s concerned with my heart. Every step of surrender has drawn me closer to Him. As I do, He will draw near to me. (James 4:8, NLT). What may seem insignificant, such as asking God before making a decision, is a moment of intimacy where we choose to trust His wisdom over our own.

Maybe God is calling you to something greater. This isn’t a message of condemnation but an open invitation to embrace the possibility of a deeper purpose.

To grow closer to God, we need to let go of the fears and doubts we’ve been holding onto. It’s okay to be honest with Him. God is inviting us to come as we are. This will enable us to open our hearts and minds, creating space to hear His voice more clearly and guiding us on our journey.

Whatever God is asking of you, I’ve learned. Obedience leads to peace. A peace that settles deep when your heart is entirely His. Loving God requires us to keep His commandments (John 14:15). Perhaps God is inviting you to take a small step of obedience today, one that draws you closer to His heart and deepens your trust in Him.

Take a moment to pause in God's presence. These questions may help you reflect and listen more deeply.

Journaling reflection

• Have I ever reached a decision without asking God first, only to sense later that it created distance between you and God?

• What fears or assumptions might influence my choices right now? How will you release your fears to God?

Obedience for each person looks different. It could be a small step, such as changing what you watch on TV, relocating to a new state, or taking an overseas missionary trip. I have learned we don’t need to have it all worked out. We need to keep turning to Him, even when it’s messy or slow. Peace must start somewhere, and I have learned it begins right where we are in the messiness, one step at a time.