Sometimes, God speaks in whispers, gentle nudges, that settle in our hearts and stay with us. That’s how it was for me with alcohol.

After my son died, I entered a long season of grief. It changed everything. In the middle of that pain, I began drinking more than I had before. It wasn’t reckless or rebellious. It felt like survival. I kept going with everyday life – working, showing up, doing what needed to be done – but behind the scenes, alcohol had become a quiet companion in my sorrow.

Eventually, I started to heal. The darkest days became more bearable, and I was able to cut back. I told myself that since I had it under control and was only drinking socially, I was doing fine. And for a while, that was enough for me.

But in the quiet moments, I sensed God nudging me. He wasn’t loud about it, but the message was clear: “Let it go.” I didn’t feel condemnation, just a persistent invitation to trust Him more deeply. I kept decreasing the amount, and the days in a month I would allow myself to drink, but still, I held back. I believed moderation was obedience. I also had many friends who drink socially.

Not long ago, I was reading the book of James again (one of my favorites) and felt as if I was seeing 4:17 in new light: “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin.”

It stopped me in my tracks. I knew what God had been asking of me, and I realized I hadn’t fully said yes. That moment wasn’t about guilt. It was about clarity. I prayed and asked God for strength to do what I hadn’t been able to do on my own.

And something amazing happened! He didn’t just help me stop, He removed the desire altogether! I didn’t expect that. But it’s what God does. God goes beyond our expectations when we surrender.

And then, just today, I received another nudge. This verse, James 4:17, was the verse of the day on YouVersion, which most of you know is how I spend my first 15 minutes out of bed each morning. It felt like God was saying, “Now is the time to share this story, not just the cleaned-up version, but the real one (the one with the messy parts and the healing) because someone else might be feeling that same nudge.” Someone might be wrestling with the “almost” obedience that I lived in for years.

If that’s you, if there’s something God is asking you to release, change, or trust Him with, please hear this: the joy on the other side is incomparable. He is kind. He is faithful. And when we finally say “yes,” He meets us there with strength, grace, and so much freedom.

I can’t explain in words the joy, grace, truth, and freedom that I have found in my life, but I try to explain it. I also try to live it out. I’m still a work in progress, but I’m getting closer every day.

So… is there something God’s been gently bringing to your heart? Is there a “yes” you’ve been hesitant to give or you’ve only partially given? (Because that isn’t really a “yes”.) Take a quiet moment today to listen. God’s voice may be soft, but it’s always full of love and His plans are always good.