The Year Of Saying Yes

For the last six years of being a mother, I have found that I have been reluctant to say “yes” to things outside of my family. I have felt like my priority had to be my family.

While I know there are certain seasons in life when we cannot say “yes” to a lot of extra activities- I found that there was a deeper issue why I was reluctant. I was afraid to say yes. I’ve been asked in years passed to step into leadership roles and I have usually declined.

The root cause of my declining I have figured out is fear.

This past spring, the call came from a gal with my MOPS group asking if I would prayerfully consider being one of two coordinators for the following year. Me? Coordinator? With all honesty I thought she had confused me with another woman in the group.

I could not fathom standing up in front of the group leading women in prayer and having all eyes on me.

Do they not know who I am? I have shortcomings and failures! Lots of them! How could I stand up in front and be seen as a leader?

But, then I began to focus on the calling rather than on what I thought of myself.

My husband was on board and encouraged me to say yes. After more praying, I felt like this was God knocking and I needed to answer. I was comforted by the saying that goes “God equips those that He calls.” I was gaining confidence that this was what I was being called to do.

So after a summer of training/praying/and preparing for this MOPS year along with other mothers who said yes to leadership roles- I have been encouraged and amazingly inspired seeing God at work. God has been equipping me for this role all along.

Our first meeting has come and gone. I stood up in front of 60 ladies and by nothing short of a miracle; I stood solid, not shaking like a leaf. I served these ladies with a glad heart. I prayed for them all summer and knew God lead them there to our group for a purpose.

The biggest lesson through this experience was figuring out, that it is not about me. It had nothing to do with how I looked, or how eloquently I spoke.

I was so focused on myself that I could not say yes before. I was so focused on my inadequacies and insecurities and doubts that I would not allow God to do a good work through me. By laying down my life and saying yes, use me Lord, I have experienced true joy and contentment that I have not experienced before; from serving others and being the hands and feet of Jesus.

I encourage you, too, to say yes.

We are not all called to EVERYTHING, but all of us are called to something. What is your something?

It might be uncomfortable that which we are being called to. It might feel like a joke, like, really me? Why would I be good at that? Sometimes it is not about being the best at something, or the smartest, or wittiest, or most talented.

God uses us ordinary women to do extraordinary things for His glory, and all we have to do is say yes.

By Katie Brown, Simple & Special