Saying "Yes"

Our pastor was quite emphatic behind the pulpit that Sunday morning, “Heed God’s call every single time! Don’t ever miss an opportunity to tell His story.” He then enumerated familiar excuses of people in avoiding jobs for the Lord: 

In our women’s gathering after the service, we discussed a forthcoming event that needed a speaker. Nobody volunteered. So the president of our group said, “Grace was our speaker the last time, so can we have a volunteer?” 

“Blessie!” exclaimed a chorus of voices.

“Oh no, no, no!” she said. “I am not a good speaker.” 

Someone jokingly nudged her, “Remember the message half an hour ago? We need to heed every call from God. This is an opportunity for you to speak about Him.” 

Blessie blushed and said in a tiny voice, “I am sorry, Lord. If you are calling me, I will come.” 

We gave her a prolonged applause.  

When God asks us to do something out of our comfort zone, we become fearful. But we must always remember that every call from God is an opportunity to say, “yes,” trusting His wisdom and not our own.   

At the event, everyone was immensely blessed by Blessie's message, spoken with passion and conviction:  

By her example, let’s go back to His promise in Isaiah 41:10, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” 

May He continually give us power and joy so we can say “yes” to what He wants us to do, even if it is something out of our comfort zone. 

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This blog was written before the pandemic; I am re-uploading it in memory of Sis Blessie, who turned her back on her lucrative career as a metallurgical engineer to say "yes" to her role as a Pastor's wife—raising three daughters, who are all just as passionate in serving the Lord. 

Sis Blessie again said "yes" to the Lord on Tuesday this week when He called her home to join her husband and all those who faithfully served Him in this temporal place. Although we mourn her leaving us so soon, we rejoice because she is now in that perfect place where we shall worship God together again, someday. 

More importantly, she left us a lasting legacy of saying "yes" to the Lord whenever He calls.