Janine came to me for coaching after taking a hard look at her life. During our first session, she shared how even during the silent times at home, her mind was loud with so many thoughts that she couldn’t silence. Bills to pay. Kids to feed. Deadlines at work. Another day, another endless to-do list.
When she looked at her planner, all she saw were pages filled with tasks she knew she’d barely have time to get done. Every moment of her day was accounted for – except for her.
There was no space for her dreams, and no room for her heart’s desires.
She kept telling herself: “I’ll figure it out one day. Maybe next month, after the kids are settled.”
But that was something she had told herself for years. Next month. Next season. Next year.
In that moment she clearly saw that she was living on autopilot. Doing everything for everyone else while quietly putting her own dreams, desires, and calling on hold. She had become so good at “managing” life that she hadn’t realized she’d been sleepwalking through it.
She found herself crying out to God: “Lord, is this it? Is this all I’m supposed to be doing?” Deep down, she knew the answer. No, this wasn’t it.
Then the Holy Spirit whispered to her soul Ephesians 5:14: “Wake up, sleeper. Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” She had heard that verse before, but today it hit differently.
It wasn’t about physical sleep – it was about her life. She was alive, but she wasn’t living. Her dreams, her purpose, her calling had been buried under busyness, fear, and doubt. But God was calling her to wake up.
With a deep breath, Janine whispered, “Okay, Lord. No more waiting. No more sleepwalking.”
She didn’t have all the answers, but for the first time in a long time, she felt a flicker of hope.
And that flicker of hope was the thing that finally drove her to me and coaching.
In this blog post I’m going to share with you what I shared with Janine.
God Never Intended for You to Sleepwalk Through Life
Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions? You wake up, go to work, care for your family, attend church, and do the same thing all over again. Your life is full of activity, but it feels empty of purpose.
If you’re honest, you know something is missing. Deep down, you feel it. You crave more – more meaning, more passion, more joy. You know you’re made for something greater, but you’re unsure how to get there.
The truth is, God never intended for you to sleepwalk through life. He didn’t create you to simply survive each day. He created you to live fully, walk boldly, and pursue your purpose, calling, and assignment with confidence and faith.
But somewhere along the way, life happened. The weight of responsibilities, fear of failure, and the comfort of your routine made it easier to “play it safe” rather than live by faith. Day after day, you show up for everyone else, but deep down, you wonder, “When will it be my turn?”
The truth is: It’s your turn now.
What Does It Mean to Sleepwalk Through Life?
Sleepwalking isn’t just something people do in the middle of the night. Spiritually, it’s when you move through life doing what’s expected but never fully engaging with your purpose. You’re present in body but not in spirit.
It might look like this:
- Living on autopilot – You follow your daily routine, but your heart isn’t in it.
- Chasing busyness over purpose – You’re always busy, but you’re not growing, building, or walking in alignment with God’s plan for your life.
- Placing your dreams on the backburner – You hear the call for more, but you quiet it with thoughts like, “I don’t have time for that” or “Maybe one day.”
- Giving into fear and doubt – You know God is calling you to step out, but fear of failure makes it easier to stay where you are.
Does any of this sound familiar? If it any of it resonates with you, I want you to know this: You can wake up. God is calling you to live with intention, purpose, and bold faith – not to sleepwalk through life.
During my free Not Waiting to Exhale Challenge, we’re going to dive into this topic even more. Sign up for the waitlist and be one of the first to know when registration opens. Sign up today: I’m joining the waitlist!
God’s Call to Wake Up
The words the Holy Spirit whispered to Janine from Ephesians 5:14 are just as true for you and me.
This is about spiritual awakening. It’s about coming alive to your purpose, your calling, and the assignment God has placed on your life.
God doesn’t want you to drift through life like a leaf caught in the wind. He wants you to move with purpose and direction. He wants you to walk fully awake, fully present, and fully aligned with the good works He prepared for you before you were even born. (See Ephesians 2:10)
You are not a background character in your own life. You are a leading lady. And God is calling you to wake up and walk boldly in the role He has prepared for you.
Why Do We Fall Asleep Spiritually?
Sometimes we think we’re waiting on God, but the truth is, we’ve grown too comfortable in a place God never intended us to stay. We wait for “perfect timing” that never comes. We hold back, convinced we need more clarity, more resources, or more confidence.
But none of that matters to God. He doesn’t need you to be “ready” before He calls you. He simply needs you to be willing.
- If you’re waiting for perfection, you’ll never move.
- If you’re waiting for confidence, you’ll never start.
- If you’re waiting for all the pieces to come together, you’ll stay stuck where you are.
God isn’t waiting for you to be perfect – He’s waiting for you to be willing.
It’s Time to Wake Up
The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 11:4, “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” In other words, if you wait for everything to be “just right,” you’ll never move.
- How long have you been waiting?
- How long have you been silencing your dreams, holding back your voice, and doubting your calling?
It’s time to wake up.
You don’t have to keep living on autopilot. You don’t have to keep walking the same path, day after day, with no joy, no purpose, and no passion. God is calling you to something greater.
Look at the women of the Bible – Esther, Ruth, and Mary. None of them waited for the “perfect moment.” They walked forward in faith, not certainty. Esther didn’t know if the king would accept her, but she said, “If I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16). Ruth didn’t know how her story would end, but she followed Naomi with boldness, saying, “Where you go, I will go.” (Ruth 1:16)
None of these women had a clear picture of what was next—but they trusted that God would meet them on the other side of their obedience.
God Has More For You
God didn’t create you to live a life of exhaustion, frustration, or defeat. He created you to live a life of joy, purpose, and fulfillment. He has good plans for you – plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
But here’s the thing about God’s plans: You have to walk in them.
- God can give you the vision, but He won’t force you to act on it.
- He will give you the dream, but you have to say yes.
- He will give you the open door, but you have to walk through it.
You were created to be a light in this world. (Matthew 5:14) You were created to be salt, not shadows. You were created to move forward, not stay in the same place.
- It’s time to exhale, Woman of God.
- It’s time to release the weight of doubt, fear, and hesitation.
- It’s time to stop holding your breath and start living.
No More Waiting. No More Drifting.
You’ve waited long enough.
It’s time to stop living in delay. God is calling you to move now.
- You don’t have to have it all figured out.
- You don’t have to know the whole plan.
You just have to wake up and walk.
The Bible says we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7). It’s time to walk. Not with doubt. Not with fear. But with faith.
You are worthy.
You are ready.
You are called.
Don’t sleepwalk through life. Wake up. Exhale. Live.
And don’t forget to sign up for the Not Waiting to Exhale Challenge waitlist: I’m Signing Up Now!
