By +Jeanne Takenaka @JeanneTakenaka
Our Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—YES. This largely unedited “rough draft” form of writing stretches this perfectionist, in the best of ways. I write for five minutes on a given topic. If you’re interested in learning more about 5-Minute Fridays, check out our hostess, Kate Motaung’s site. Or, click on the link at the bottom of this post. As you read my simpler Friday posts, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!
YES
When my husband was getting ready to ask me the question, I was pretty certain what was coming. The timing was different than I expected, but that night we took an after-sundown walk, and then went back to the home where he was staying, i just knew what was coming.
I loved the way he asked me to marry him. And I was so, so ready to say yes to being his forever.
That anticipation has ebbed and flowed over the years . . . that willingness to say yes before I heard the question.
But there are times, when I have an inkling of what someone’s going to ask before they ask. And I’m so ready to say yes! Usually it’s to something I’m already excited to do or be a part of.
What about when God asks? Am I ready to say yes to Him before He asks His question?
Honestly? No.
I’m afraid He might ask too much of me. Or ask for more than I’m willing to relinquish. Because—arrogant me—I think I have control of my life. Of my destiny.
What a sad lack of trust I have in my heavenly Father sometimes. Thinking that I should have the ultimate control of my life.
Who gave me (and each of us) life? God.
Who’s blessed us beyond comprehension with His love and blessings? God.
Who asks us to trust Him no matter what? God.
He’s a good God. Things that happen in our lives don’t always look good from an earthly standpoint. But in His eyes, they are they right things to come into our lives.
When we trust our Father, we can say yes before we hear the question. We know He walks with us through life’s hard and through the times of rejoicing. We know that when he allows something into our lives it’s for our growth, ultimately. Those things conform us into the image of His Son. And each situation is one more step in Him completing that good work He began in us.
So the next time I feel a heavenly question coming, I’m going to choose to say yes.
What about you? When were you eager to say yes? How do you choose to trust God when you’re not sure what He’s asking of you?
Visit Kate Motaung’s site for her Five Minute Friday post—YES
Jeanne Takenaka 
I really enjoyed hearing your proposal story. Thank you for sharing! My problem is how I feel like my family is saying “Yes, God! Here we are, send us! We’re ready!” but we’re stuck at home in Texas right now. I know God can bring the money at any moment and we’ll be off, but it isn’t time for that right now. He’s stretching and growing my family. I know we’ll be stronger the next time we get to leave Texas, but it’s difficult to wait sometimes. It’s humbling.
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Oh, Amanda, you bring up another aspect of saying yes. Sometimes we say yes to a dream or a vision God’s given us, but our timing is different from His. That also requires trust . . . that He’s preparing the way for you to go. In His timing. I’m saying a prayer for you as you walk out this time of waiting!
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I just read “Anything” by Jennie Allen. She talks about being ready to say a big Yes! and what happened when God called her to smaller, closer to home yeses…
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Oh, that sounds interesting, Annie. Yeah, we prepare ourselves and get psyched up for the big ones, but will we be obedient to the small yeses God’s asking of us? I’m going to have to read that book. I’m reading The Best Yes, right now, by Lysa Terkeurst (Spelling?). I’m getting a lot out of it. 🙂
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Ugh… there’s truth… we don’t always like to ‘yes’ when it’s asking too much of us. But what a good lesson to learn of His grace to us as we walk forward in His plan. Oh, that I learn to say ‘yes’ more to Him and less of me! Thanks for these good words!
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Yes, Rachel. Learning to walk in His grace, trusting that His way is best . . . even before we know where He’s leading us. It’s HARD sometimes! I liked what you said about saying yes more to Him and less to yourself. Thanks for the visit!
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Trusting God and saying “Yes!” when I’m not sure what he’s asking are HARD for me! The older I get, the more I realize that just because something seems to be working out doesn’t necessarily mean it was what God had in mind. I’m trying to sort out my ‘yeses’ to what I desire from the Yeses to what he desires. The proof is in the pudding, they say. If the thing results in a good time, but that’s it, it was probably just a me thing. If the thing results in good being done and blessings, than it was a God thing ;).
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Oh Anita, I like that. Sorting out the yeses in your life and figuring out which ones are your desires and, when different, which are God’s desire for you. It can be HARD for me to say Yes to the unknown plans of God too. That’s where the trust in Him comes in, right? Yeah, I’m speaking to myself here. 🙂 Have a great weekend, my friend.
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What a sweet proposal. Thanks for the reminder that my yes often will come in Gods timing and not mine. Parked in the #15 spot this week.
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Thanks, Tara. God gave me a pretty sweet guy. And yes, God’s timing . . . how often have I struggled with that?! Trusting His plans and timing though, brings peace.
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It drives Anglos crazy sometimes, but it’s in the genes, dude…we Orientals are really good at saying ‘Yes’ to God.
I think it comes from a very cyclical worldview; most of Asia is run on the monsoon clock, and the harvests…and our lives…follow that tempo.
One might be tempted to say it’s fatalism, but I think that spin is too negative. There’s something of a calm and flowing acceptance and reaction.
A bit of that is reflected in Asian martial arts, at least the ones that are still done right; more than half of the object is to let the opponent use his moves against himself (not, as is commonly believed, ‘using his movements against him’).
Sometimes the way to win is simply to step aside, and remain standing when the dust settles.
Yes?
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I love your take on this, Andrew! And the whole idea of the cyclical worldview does make sense. It makes me wonder if the first-world affluence has fostered the, “I’m in control” mindset. I suspect it has for most people. Rather than striving, that standing aside can definitely be the better way. You did it again—made me evaluate this idea from a different angle. 🙂
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Great post. Thanks for sharing this.
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Thank you so much for stopping by, Sherry. Have a great weekend!
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I need to remember to open my heart and say yes.
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I know, Lisa. It can be hard to open our hearts because—at least for me—I already think I know what is best/needs to happen in my life. God has a way of tweaking that mindset though. 🙂 May He surprise you as you keep your heart open to Him. 🙂
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I get the feeling I have control of my life, too, Jeanne! So silly. But it is hard to say yes by faith sometimes. I want to let go, I want to be free and give freely. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak! Thanks for the prompt for us to say yes to God. Because after all, He said Yes in sending His Son for us. No greater sacrifice.
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I suspected I wasn’t alone in that whole flesh-in-control struggle, Ruthie. May we both be more brave about letting go and saying yes in faith. And yes, you brought up the Main Thing. God said yes in sending Jesus for us. Why wouldn’t we respond with a loud YES?! Have a great weekend, my friend.
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Beautiful post, Jeanne. What a good word. Reminds me of the chorus of that old hymn: “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust you…..Oh for grace to trust you more.” I want to be a yes girl too! #fmfparty
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I haven’t thought of that hymn in ages, Betsy. But yes, may we always be about trusting Him more. And may we both be “yes girls” for Him. 🙂 Have a super weekend.
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I wonder if it seems easier to say “yes” to friends rather than God because we anticipate the question. When God throws those out of nowhere challenges (as he so often does) I feel like I “need” to take time to process it, rather than jumping in with trust.
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Hmmm, another good thought. We have an idea of what we’re saying yes to when friends ask something of us. Not usually true with God. Processing our answers is always a wise thing to do.
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Interesting. I over-analyze everything and so it’s pretty rare that I’m immediately ready to say “yes” to anything. I’m the kind of person that makes the “pro” and “con” lists and contemplates exit strategies. Sadly, I know I do this with God.
This gets me –
“He’s a good God. Things that happen in our lives don’t always look good from an earthly standpoint. But in His eyes, they are they right things to come into our lives.”
I forget that He’s good. I really do. I forget that He has the best plan and anything that comes to me has to pass through Him first. I forget that He is guiding me, keeping me safe, shaping me into the person He wants me to be. I forget that it’s always right to say “yes” to Him, even when it’s an Abraham moment and I have no idea what will happen next.
Thanks, friend, for reminding me. 🙂
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Ahhh, Marie. You more than many know the struggle of remembering God is good. When the pain is bad and the energy is gone . . . we weak ones question, yes? And yes, maybe we can both remind each other that saying “yes” to God is always the right thing, even when we feel like Abraham (Love that analogy).
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Jeanne,
oh my goodness! You got inside my head, and then you wrote the things I’m scared to admit. Bless you! I too, anticipate the question before hand. My husband is irritated by it because I’m not always right. The finishing of another’s sentences is not always cute-especially if they interrupt you and they don’t have the right words. Then it throws your thought train off the track.
Ha ha, and I try to do it with God too. I assume I know where He’s taking me and I am wrong. A lot. It boils down to the control and security of control and God wanting to be the one in control-not afraid to trust Him.
Your twin inside,
Tammy
P.S. Thanks for coming and finding me!! (#72 is far away from you this week)
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Oh Tammy, I’ve been there. Both with hubby and friends, and with God. thinking I know what’s coming next, inputting my words/interrupting, and then realizing I was wrong. Hubby has taught me to not do that to him, but some of my friends do it to me, or they cut me off, and it taps into the lies I struggle with. When we listen first and then process, things go better, we don’t hurt others’ feelings and we have a clearer understanding of what’s being asked of us.
Releasing control and trusting Him is the key to so much in this life, including being willing to say yes to whatever He may ask. So glad you stopped by my friend!
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We kept trying to close the door but it remained wide open, so after weeks praying, weighing the pros and cons, and seeking the advice of trusted friends, my wife and I decided to decline an offer of residency, serving at a different church, miles away. It would be working in a ministry area that is really out of my comfort zone. Besides, we’re retired and not looking for job, we enjoy promoting my book and ocasionally speaking at churches, etc. Then, after my latest speaking engagement we went out to lunch with the pastor and his wife and listened to their story of obedience to God’s call, even when it didn’t seem like the best thing to do. After lunch we got into our car and my wife turned to me and said, “We’re going aren’t we?” and I said, “Yep.” We can’t imagine standing before God one day and hear Him say, “I called you to serve and you didn’t even bother to show up.”
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Gene,it’s interesting how questions like that help us to evaluate our priorities. A number of years ago, a similar question led me to say yes to serving in our church’s women’s ministry position. And yeah, the thought of standing before God and hearing Him ask why I never showed up? That would be devastating. Thank you so much for sharing your story!
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