October 3, 2025

 Spiritually speaking, do you feel stuck? Restless? Like you know God has something more for you, but you’re just not sure what it is?

If so, you may be experiencing “holy discontent”. And that might be a good thing.

We might describe something “holy” as “set apart”, and we might describe “discontent” as meaning “unsatisfied” or “not at peace.” That said, we can think of “holy discontent” as a spiritual unsettling in our soul that something isn’t as it should be - perhaps between what exists currently and what we were made for or what we’re supposed to do next. This unsettling is often God stirring you, preparing you, or getting your attention. 

Over the summer, I served with a fantastic group of leaders from both WOCC campuses at CIY MOVE with our high school students. CIY MOVE is a week-long conference for high school students designed to challenge students to be kingdom workers and pursue a life with Jesus. While the week is meant for the students, those who serve as leaders tend to get their worlds rocked as well. And…that happened.

As it turns out, those who serve together often grow together! Since July, a few of us CIY MOVE leaders have been keeping in touch and sharing life - sometimes through text messages, sometimes over lunch, or after serving together. In all of it, I realized that each of us was in our own unique season of holy discontent, and we all wanted to hear from God in our unsettled state.

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I have a choice to make for my next phase of life… what do I choose? Where is God leading me?

I really don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing with my life. I’m seeking God, but I’m not sure I’m hearing from Him…

I feel like God wants me to make this move, but I’m not sure why?

I’ve been waiting for this thing to happen and I’m just not sure why it hasn’t…

If you’ve uttered phrases like these, you’re not alone. Trust me - you’re in good company!

Psalm 25: 4-5 says:

Show me your ways, Lord,

teach me your paths.

Guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

How often do we cry out for God to show us the way we should go? To give us a sign or confirmation in what we should do? How often do we plead in prayer for His wisdom, guidance, and discernment?

But perhaps deep down, in our praying and pleading, what we actually want is a sure-fire plan or a green light from God (so that we have someone to blame if it fails or goes sideways). Perhaps what we want is someone else (God) to make the decision for us so we don’t have to do so in faith. What if my “surrender” to God looks more like throwing it in God’s face and saying “Here, you take it and tell me what to do!” rather than openhandedly and humbly giving it over to Him and asking what He would have me do?

What the Psalmist is asking for here isn’t a plan or path; they’re seeking to KNOW GOD. You see, we don’t need a plan to follow - we need someone to trust. When we know God, we know they way.

Hearing from God isn’t just about getting answers (because sometimes, there just aren’t any); it’s about getting to know God’s heart and character, which is steady and never changes. “Show me Your Ways” and “Teach me Your Paths” is more like “Show me Your heart, so that I might know and trust You more in my discontent.”

Those CIY MOVE leaders and I have continued to lean in during this fall season. We meet every other week in some capacity and we are avidly seeking after God’s heart in our holy discontent.

Are you seeking to know God’s heart and character or just His plan and His answers?

What if our “Where are you, God?” cries were more from a place of faithful curiosity rather than fearful abandonment?

In your holy discontent - may you truly seek Him, and may you put your hope in Him all day long.

Zac Owens

Colerain Worship Pastor

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