The Faith Effect: 10 Things That Happen When You Do (and Don't) Pursue God

Have you ever noticed how different your day feels when you start it with Jesus vs. when you don’t?

I’m not talking about checking a box or squeezing in a quick devotional while half-asleep—I mean that real, intentional pursuit of the Lord. That heart posture that says, “God, I want You in all of this. Not just the pretty parts. Not just the parts I can manage. But all of it.”

This past month in the Faith Study Library, we’ve been digging into what it means to live a life of faith—not just once in a while, not just when things go wrong, but every single day. What the actual pursuit of Jesus really looks like. We’ve walked through how to seek Him, pray with expectation, push past the distractions, and show up even when life is loud.

And let’s be real… it’s not always easy.

But I’ve learned that faith lived out consistently leads to transformation—not just in what we believe, but in how we live, love, decide, and respond.

So today, I wanted to wrap up March’s study with something a little fun but packed with truth—10 things that happen when we pursue God faithfully… and 10 things that tend to happen when we don’t.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

✅ 10 Things That Happen When You Live a Life of Faith

1. You start to expect God to move. You stop wishful thinking—and start believing.

2. Peace replaces panic. Even when the answer hasn’t come yet, you trust the Lord who is working all things out for your good.

3. Your prayers become bolder. You stop praying small and start praying kingdom-sized.

4. You hear God’s voice more clearly. Because consistency tunes your spiritual ears to His whisper.

5. You notice His hand in everyday things. From parking spaces to a friend's encouragement—nothing feels random anymore.

6. Your faith spills over onto others. People around you start to notice something different—and it points them to Jesus.

7. You’re less distracted. When He becomes the focus, everything else dims.

8. You move with confidence and peace. You’re not just reacting—you’re being led.

9. You obey faster. Because you trust His heart, even when it stretches your comfort zone.

10. You crave His presence. Once you’ve tasted the closeness of God, you don’t want to live without it.

    
    

🚫 10 Things That Happen When You Don’t Pursue God Faithfully

1. You feel disconnected and dry. Even when you “believe,” you feel spiritually out of sync.

2. You pray—but without power. Your words feel empty, like you’re unsure if they even matter.

3. You start carrying everything yourself. Hello, overwhelm.

4. Fear gets louder. Without God’s truth grounding you, anxiety and doubt start running the show.

5. You miss the small miracles. God’s still moving—you’re just not noticing.

6. Your faith becomes fragile. The littlest storm shakes you.

7. You make impulsive decisions. No time for prayer means more regret.

8. You compare. A lot. When you’re not filled by Him, you start looking at what fills everyone else.

9. You carry guilt instead of grace. You avoid God, then feel ashamed about avoiding Him. The cycle continues.

10. You forget who you are. Because we only know who we truly are when we stay connected to the One who created us.

    
    

So What Do We Do With This?

Here’s the encouraging news: you don’t have to be perfect to pursue God—you just have to be willing.

Faith isn’t a formula. It’s not about checking all the boxes.

It’s about returning. Refocusing. Rebuilding the habit of being with your Heavenly Father.

Every single day is a new invitation to step into a life of faith that expects, trusts, listens, and grows.

You can do this, my friend!

Bonus: Grab the Printable!

Want to keep this list somewhere you can see it during the week? I created a free printable just for you—with both lists and space for your own faith reflections. Hang it by your desk, pop it in your journal, or use it for your next small group chat.

👉 Download the 10/10 Faith Life Printable Here

Here's a Peek:

P.S. If this stirred something in you…I want to invite you into something that’s become a big part of my heart this year.

It’s called the Faith Study Library—a weekly Bible study experience I’ve created to help you grow deeper in your walk with God, one week at a time. Not just to read scripture—but to actually live it. We’ve been walking through powerful themes like how to seek God, pray with expectation, and push past distractions.

And now in April, we’re diving into one of the most life-changing truths:

This month is all about tuning our ears to hear Him more clearly, identifying the voices shaping our thoughts, and how hearing God's Word builds the kind of faith that actually holds us up when life throws us a curveball.

There’s no pressure. No perfection required.

Just an open heart, a hungry spirit, and space to let God move.

If you want in, I’d love to walk it with you.

→ You can join the Faith Study Library right here

And a little bonus just for subscribers: Each week’s study is posted online through our website (and in the app), but at the end of every month, I create a beautifully designed PDF download of the full month’s content—and I send it only to those who’ve signed up. That way, you’ll have something to hold in your hands, tuck into your Bible, or come back to again and again.

But for now: here is a free sneak peek into week two of our first month's study:

So, if you’ve been waiting to jump in, this is your moment.

Let’s walk it out—for the brave, the weary, and those hungry for more of Him.

(Psst… it's just $7/month for Unveiled Living subscribers - starting April 1st)

If you haven't subscribed to Unveiled Living, you can sign up here and join our community and receive our monthly Unveiled Connect and weekly study reminders.

Let’s build a faith that hears Him, follows Him, and never stops growing.

Walking by faith,

Tracee Padilla