I am a very stubborn woman. Let me just go ahead and get that out there. One of the ‘famous’ childhood stories told about me is from when I was just 8 or 9 months old. According to the people there, I was in my walker trying to cross the threshold from one room of the house to another. I couldn’t get my contraption across the barrier on the floor. Did I give up and wheel away? No way! I kept at it, pushing and screaming until I screamed in such anger that I just passed out! Now, I have absolutely zero recollection of this event so I am deciding to take it with a grain of salt.
For years I have insisted on doing everything I wanted to do, or was asked to do, by myself. Never ask for help—that shows weakness—always finish before you’re expected to—that shows diligence. I didn’t realize that it was really my pride that wouldn’t ask for help when I needed it.
I’m not saying my stubbornness hasn’t been used for God [if you can imagine that]. When I was first married my husband and I moved to Mexico as missionaries. Because of my stubborn determination I learned the Spanish language fluently in six months. Within a year I was teaching a children’s Sunday school class. However, my stubbornness has also exhausted me, caused sickness in my body and left me broken and weak.
Recently I’ve been learning to say yes. At first it was really difficult—but I had no way out. I am teaching a group of women Lysa TerKeurst’s bible study “What happens when women say yes to God”. Because I’m teaching it, I have to practice what I teach. So every time God tells me to do something or accept help, I have to say yes. It doesn’t mean I’m weak—I’m submitting to Him. For an old stubborn pro like me it has been quite the learning experience! It has also been freeing!
This week Doug [my awesome husband] is in Peru on the Amazon. Since we both work and have four kids in two different schools, our drop off and pick up schedules are interesting to say the least. Doug travels a lot so normally I just run myself like crazy trying to juggle everything when he is gone. This time I said yes to help. You see, as Lysa says in her book, we don’t need to worry about the results of our obedience we need to just obey. God worked out the details of our obedience before He ever asked.
So I’m saying yes.
I’m saying yes to God when He prompts me to share my responsibilities.
When He gives me opportunities to worship Him openly.
When He asks me to give my time to follow Him.
Saying yes makes all the difference in the world! What a beautiful, peaceful place to live. I challenge you to start saying yes to God.
Here are five questions to confirm if what you are hearing is from God:
- Does what I’m hearing line up with Scripture?
- Is it consistent with God’s character?
- Is it being confirmed through messages I’m hearing at church or studying in my quiet times?
- Is it beyond me?
- Would it please God?
{taken from What Happens When Women Say yes to God—L. TerKeurst, 2007}
