Stay in God's Grip!
  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact

 While in God's Grip!

Learning to say "No"

7/2/2017

 
Picture

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."
~ Isaiah 58: 8, 9a 
​I cannot. 

A phrase that I rarely say.  I think for any of us telling someone that you "cannot" do something is a sign of weakness, or admitting a weakness. 

I have discovered over the years telling someone that you "cannot" do something doesn't mean either of those things, what it does do is set boundaries. 

I have known people, including myself, that telling people "yes" all the time can actually cause you to become too stretched. For many of us we want to be able to help others, but sometimes telling someone "no" is actually doing more than saying "yes."

It's not something we really ever talk about. 

I guess this is something that comes with age. It was hard at first to say "no," but it sure changed how I would feel about a situation, and sometimes the person. Additionally, I would discover I felt better about myself. 

No longer would I get stressed out and begin to "should" on myself. Saying things like, "I should have done this", or "I should have done that."

The same can be said about God. Sometimes God also says no. As much as we talk about the blessings that God provides, sometimes the answer is clearly "no."

In those moments we must learn to live in grace. 

In all circumstances, according to scripture, we are to give thanks. In all times, we must remember that the will of God will never lead where God's grace will not sustain. Our lives should reflect the same.

Stay in God's grip!

​G. Todd Williams (c) 2017

Dear Lord, learning to say "no" is sometimes a difficult lesson for us.  Help me to define boundaries that are both healthy and filled with Your blessings.  Amen.


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Rev. G. Todd Williams is the author of the book, "Remember Me When..." (Chalice Press, August 2021) and is a former hospice chaplain.

    He holds a Master of Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and currently is serving Webster Presbyterian Church, Webster, Texas as their Interim Senior Minister.

    Archives

    May 2025
    September 2024
    February 2024
    May 2023
    February 2023
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Todd's Blog
  • Remember Me When
  • Contact