I wish someone would have told me how much saying yes to God would hurt or how much it would cost me. Please understand, I would not trade saying yes to God for anything but just maybe it would have been easier to handle, had I known. No, this is not just about accepting a call to ministry but it is simply about saying yes. Yes, God to your will. Yes, God to your way. Yes, God I will go. Yes, God I trust you. Yes God! Because afterwards, when you think things should be getting better, you may just find yourself in a really dark place, crouched in the farthest corner of a room, hiding out from family and friends, standing at the edge of a cliff, looking down the barrel of a loaded gun, counting out pills to swallow or preparing to shoot up something to take you away from the current conditions of your life. Sometimes you find yourself asking, how I ended up back here. Crying out to God for understanding and He’s silent. Pacing back and forth trying to make sense of why stuff is happening to you, at this moment. After the yes. Wondering, shouldn’t things be getting better? Well chile, here is what I’ve learned, after saying yes.
1. You are uncertain – Yes, you were tired of being in the broken place and you were tired of fighting God. Yet now it seems like hell is breaking loose and it is worse than before. You have to trust in your yes. “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!” – Hebrews 10:35
2. You find yourself fighting – You are now seeing people for who they really are and calling them on it because your eyes have been opened and the wool has been snatched off. “But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” – 2 Corinthians 3:16
3. You start suffering at the hands of family and friends – Yes, it was bad before but now it is worse now because folk will hurt what they cannot or will not understand and that happens to be the change in you. – “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” – 1 Peter 4:14
4. You lose some people – Yes, it hurts but you will only lose those who cannot survive in your new season. Be okay with saying bye. For you will soon learn that you will no longer shed tears over the things that used to make you cry. “You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.” – Psalm 18:39
5. There is glory after yes – “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” – Romans
Don’t delay your yes because of fear and don’t go back on your word once saying yes. Saying yes to God comes with privilege and pain but I declare it is worth it. Because now your testimony begins with, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10.
Lakisha, the Author 