Celebrating No!

Have you ever been told "no" to something you wanted, either directly or indirectly? I recently had an indirect "no" to a writing opportunity I desired. Honestly, it was not a huge job, but it was a great ministry opportunity. The "no" was painful for me, and I wasn't sure why. It should not have been a big deal.

So, I began to look deeper into my own spiritual response. I realized that enemy uses the "no" in our lives to attack us on all fronts. We feel rejected, inadequate, not preferred, and insecure about our talents, or worse yet, even who we are. When we are not given the reason for the "no" then our imaginations really run wild, which was the case in this circumstance.

As a professional writer, I get told "no" more than most people - it just goes with my chosen vocation. I've developed a thick skin over the years. Some "no"s are more painful than others, and feel more personal. But God has used them, especially in my writing career, to change the trajectory of my career path to something I'm truly passionate about.

No matter how many "yeses" we get, it's the NO that screams to our psyche. I've had my fair share of "no" in my life, and I bet you have, too. There were job opportunities that didn't happen, relationships that went off the rails, and times when I prayed to be part of a group but (for whatever reason) I wasn't asked. I'm at an age where I realize that some of my dreams for myself and my life that I had from a young age may not happen. The door closed, it's a no. (I want to point out that in many cases, there were unexpected "yeses" that took their place and were even better!)

I've come to this conclusion: God uses the no in our life, as much as the yes, to gently guide and direct us along His chosen path. As believers, we can make the choice to trust in God's direction for our life, even though our will may not line up with God's. This is where holy obedience comes into play. He tests our perseverance and faith.

All four gospels, in their telling of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, make mention of the fact that Christ himself said of his impending crucifixion, "Not my will but thine be done." Surrendering His will resulted in incredible pain and suffering, but He knew the power of God's direction in His life's calling. (Matt. 26: 39, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42, and John 5:30)

I daresay that in most cases, we learn as much or more about ourselves from a no than a yes. We have to be willing to surrender our own will and freely relinquish control to God. For me, I trust God's provision for my life, and I know he will answer my prayer to be glorified in all circumstances. And sometimes, that means no.

My response to a no has become, "This is not meant for me, at this time." Remember, sometimes no means not now, rather than not ever. Sometimes, we hear a wait as a no. I've heard it said that when we pray and ask God for the desires of our heart, we hear one of three things: yes, not now, or not ever. I remind myself of that, and it gives me hope for what lies ahead in my life, especially in terms of ministry. I abide in the peace and joy of my present circumstance, and seek ways God can use to show His glory in my life.

Have you had a painful no in your life? What has been your response? I don't want the things in my life that are not of Him. Our true maturity and character shines through when we get a no. How many times have we had a no, only to find that God was sparing us from a potentially bad situation, or the job at hand was better accomplished by someone else.

Today, I have an opportunity to take a painful no and use it as a stepping stone to move myself forward. As always, I can't do it in my own strength. I need the love and grace of Christ to take over.

Celebrate the no's in your life, and remember to Praise Crazy!