When to Say “No”

Is it hard to say "no" when people ask for your insights and time…even when your life is at full capacity? 

We weren’t made to come through for every request that comes our way. It actually isn’t even possible. But when we try, we pay the price. A crammed calendar almost always is a sign that we’re running on empty and behind on our own soul care.

The solution is learning how to walk with God in stepping into opportunities as well as out of them. There is a way to kindly say “no” when a request comes your way that you simply don’t have capacity for. Doing so isn’t cruel but actually a sign of maturity in learning how to navigate what matters most.

This doesn’t only apply to new requests. It’s equally relevant for current commitments that have run their course. I recently found myself wrestling with whether to remain on a board I’d been a part of for a decade. It’s a great organization but I knew deep down my season of serving was over. Yet I hesitated—for years—because I didn’t want to let them down. When I finally worked up the courage to resign, the board was gracious. They soon had an incredible replacement and I had space for fresh opportunities. 

We can only do so much. So ask God what to commit to, knowing he has infinite ways to address the needs of us and others. Our automatic "yes" to everything—out of guilt, self-importance, or even kindness—carries too high a price when the cost is lost family time, little soul care, and a weary heart.

This reading was crafted to encourage your pursuit of story and creativity with God. Your donation makes this crowd-funded initiative possible. You can support it via PAYPAL (or by check to Allen Arnold at PO Box 62841, Colorado Springs, CO 80962).

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