Sometimes we can’t wait to say yes, and other times we hesitate because of overthinking, decision fatigue, or good old-fashioned fear. Here are five things I’m learning to say yes to because I’ve learned that saying yes to what’s best is so freeing.
1. Say yes to God!
Not only should we say yes to anything God asks us to do, but we should also say yes to praying without ceasing, spending time with God, and telling others about Him. I’ve been so busy over the last few weeks, but whenever I’ve prayed for big things or small things, I’ve seen God come through.
God hears the quick prayers as I’ve moved from one task to another, just as much as the long ones. I see God’s hand moving in little miracles and even bigger mercies. God wants us to take the hope and comfort He has given us and bring it to the people around us. I definitely need more work in this area, but it’s another great thing to say yes to.
2. Say yes to believing the best about people.
“Will he really come?”
That’s what I asked myself on Saturday as I scrounged around in my closet for something to wear. My boyfriend wanted to pick me up for pizza. It was a simple thing, but it left me remembering all the times people said they’d be there and then never came. Friends who were there for a season, mentors who promised their time and then were gone just as fast, a boyfriend that promised to love me, then chose to walk away, and family who mistreated me because of my blindness taught me to expect that people wouldn’t stay. Never mind all the people who had said they’d come and then actually did.
I’d forgotten my commitment to expect the best of people and staying in my pajamas most of the day was a harsh refusal to get my hopes up. Once I finally chose my outfit, the minutes seemed to tick by so slowly while I FaceTimed a friend and waited. And then, there he was just like he said.
No matter what happens next in our relationship, I’m going to choose to expect the best of him and pray that God will help me respond with grace and wisdom when he doesn’t meet my expectations. I’ve decided it’s better to expect the best of everyone in my life. Yes, people will let you down. They won’t come even when they said they would, but one thing we can always count on is that God will be there. He keeps His promises, and He helps us trust after we’ve been hurt.
3. Say yes to faith over fear.
There are so many things about my missionary trip to Honduras that I’m SUPER excited for and other things that make me really nervous which I haven’t expressed to my pastor and his wife or anyone else who is helping me prepare. It’s going to be hot, so what if I get heat sickness or migraines triggered by the weather? When I get there, I won’t really know my way around, so what if I get lost? What if I don’t understand the language very well or struggle to make friends?
In my daily life, I find myself being afraid of things that people wouldn’t notice or think to worry about. I used to live in the shadows, trying to stay away from anything I was afraid of, jumping at every noise or cringing at every possible danger my brain could conjure up. But a while ago I decided I wouldn’t let fear rule my life or make my decisions for me anymore.
People say they don’t know how I do everything I do. They say they would be too afraid to travel by themselves, get on airplanes, or go to other countries. I have two t-shirts my mom gave me a few Christmases ago. One says “faith over fear,” and the other says “faith does not make things easy, it makes them possible.” To me, they’re not just phrases, but a decision to put feet to my faith. If I say that God is Light in the Darkness or my Shelter in a storm, I need to act like it. If I really believe Romans 8:28:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose.”
I need to live like I believe those words. I need to turn my belief into behavior.
It’s hard to face our fears head-on. It’s hard to feel fear and keep going. When we say yes to faith and send fear packing, God will do amazing things in and through us.
4. Say yes to hard conversations.
I’m the girl who avoids conflict like the plague, so this is a hard one for me. There have been times where I’ve had to either listen when someone had a problem with me or speak up about a problem I had with someone else. In every relationship, it’s important to be willing to have the tough conversations. We will hurt each other. We’ll get angry, cross a boundary, fail to meet an expectation or simply have a communication breakdown. If we leave those feelings living rent-free in our hearts, they’ll start building walls between us and the people we care about. The longer we wait, the higher the wall and the harder to knock down. Our relationships will grow stronger on the other side of those conversations.
5. Say yes to being unapologetically who God made you to be.
Guess what, friend? The concept of normal is fake news! We spend so much time shoving ourselves in a box and living by the world’s standards, that we forget we’re originals. The fact that every single person has different fingerprints should be enough to convince you that God created us with intentionality and unique purpose.
The dreams in your heart might just be God’s way of helping you discover your purpose. Your story might be the one that changes someone’s life and makes a difference for eternity. God gave you gifts to impact His kingdom. He also gave you your voice, your personality, your style, and even your favorite foods are all part of the person God created you to be.
Don’t make the same mistake I did and make yourself smaller to fit the mold or make people happy. Don’t live anyone else’s dream and don’t do anything unless God has called you to it. Say yes to being unique. Say yes to following the path God carved out for you without looking back. Remember that God didn’t make any mistakes when He created you. He loves you, and He made you for more than comparison, more than doubt. You were made for more than you could ever imagine.
Katelyn