Misunderstood Silence.

The way I live my life these days looks so different from what it once was. To those who know me, it’s as if I’ve gone from an extrovert to an introvert overnight, finding peace and rest at home with Jesus. It looks like the coffee dates have ceased, and the once-lively friendships have simmered down. My silence has at times, been misunderstood.

There’s a quiet transformation that happens when you start walking closer with God. You begin to seek Him more than anything else, and with that comes a shift — not just internally, but in how you live your day-to-day life. For me, it’s meant stepping back from the hustle, the noise, and even some of the relationships I used to pour so much of myself into. It’s not that I love those people any less. It’s just that I’m learning to love God more.

And here’s the thing — it’s not that I don’t want to show up and give all that I used to. I’ve just come to a place where I no longer chase the ones who aren’t on the same journey. Instead, I choose to run to the One who knows my heart and directs my steps. That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped caring; it means I’ve decided to invest my energy where it bears fruit, in the quiet moments with Him that are shaping me for what’s ahead.

And I don’t know about you, but I’ve felt the weight of being misunderstood in this season. People see the change but don’t quite know how to interpret it. To them, it seems like I’ve pulled away. Like the version of me they once knew has disappeared, and they’re not sure how to navigate who I am now. There’s a silent misunderstanding that hovers in the space between what they perceive and what’s actually happening in my heart.

When you’re walking with God’s truth, you’re going against the grain of this world. People are going to get uncomfortable. And that’s okay.

I’ve realized that not everyone is going to understand the choices I make or the peace I’ve found in being still before God. To some, it may look like isolation, like I’ve retreated from the world. And in a way, I have. But it’s not out of avoidance — it’s out of alignment with what God is doing in me.

I used to be the person who said yes to everything, always on the go, always trying to be everything to everyone. But that life left me exhausted. It left me feeling like I was giving pieces of myself away without ever feeling filled. Now, I’ve found rest in Him. I’ve learned that it’s okay to pull back, to be still, to sit in silence and let Him restore my soul.

But that silence has come with its own set of challenges. It’s been misunderstood as distance, as disinterest, as neglect. And that’s where the silent misunderstanding comes in. I haven’t stopped caring. I haven’t stopped loving. But my priorities have shifted, and now, I choose to be filled by the One who knows me best before I pour myself out again.

I know I’m not the only one who’s been in this space. Maybe you’ve felt it too — the disconnect between what people think is happening and what’s really going on beneath the surface. But I’ve come to realize that it’s okay to be misunderstood. Jesus was misunderstood. He walked in truth, and people didn’t always get it. In fact, His truth often made them uncomfortable.

I’ve found peace in knowing that not everyone will understand the path I’m on, and they don’t have to. What matters is that God understands. He knows the journey He’s leading me on, and that’s where my focus has to be. I’m not walking this life to please the world or to meet its expectations. I’m walking to be faithful to what He’s called me to do — even if it looks like quiet mornings at home with Him instead of being out and about.

So, to those who feel misunderstood in this season — whether it’s your silence, your boundaries, or your shifting priorities — know that it’s okay. You’re not alone in this. God sees the quiet work He’s doing in you, and He’s not done yet.

Silent misunderstandings may happen, but the truth is that this quiet, this space, is where God meets us and shapes us. It’s in the stillness that He prepares us for what’s ahead. And as long as we’re walking with Him, that’s all that truly matters.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

love Sarah xx.

*Thank you so, so much for journeying here with me. I place my heart into my writing and I am so blessed you show up for each and every post. If you would love to support this space and creator to continue creating, please keep sharing and getting the word out or consider becoming a paid supporter and help this girl to keep sharing her heart. Because God will always be the hero of my story. ❤️