He really did get down on one knee, although a lot of it is foggy. You think you’ll remember it all like a movie, but instead you remember weird things, like how the bench where we sat had a small dedication plaque on the back of it. I think it was a woman’s name, the bench given as a gift to the park in her honor. She never could have known when her life was gone that we would begin ours together here, on a bench with her name on it. But there it was, a silent witness.
I said yes (of course) and that one word propelled us forward into the next 10 years. I still say yes, everyday. No one asks if I will take this man every morning when I get up. But I do take him, whether the day is worse or better. He asked the question once. I answer him with my life.
Things going wrong or crazy or heartbreaking doesn’t mean I should have said no. It just means the world is broken and we still live in it. And so the success of our yes does not depend upon our circumstance but upon our convictions. We usually know this is true in marriage, but it’s true in other things, too.
Sometimes no is my default because I know yes will require something of me. Movement. Commitment. Expectation. Change. We know saying yes means a lot, implies a lot. And so we hide behind no and leave the yes’s for the brave and the courageous — those who are not us.
But your world would be different if you were not in it. And your brave yes might be just what we’re waiting for. Yes, I will believe. Yes, I will move. Yes, I will open my eyes. Yes, I will show up. You might not like what you see. You might be afraid of what is required of you. But yes is the first step and you are not alone. What is your brave yes?
We’re talking about changing the world everyday in October. See the other posts in the series here.
So much I love here these last days, Emily.
Show up. Say yes.
Today my brave yes is that I will write, I will share.
I will do it even though I am terrified I will do it wrong.
I will do it even though I am afraid, even though I worry rejection comes right on sharing’s heels.
Thank you for your words of scary, emboldening courage.
Bless you.
Oh, what about those of us who hide behind a “maybe.” We don’t have to deal with the guilt of a “no” and it is still non-committal. Ahh, working on changing myself.
Thanks for the motivation.
“. . . our yes does not depend on circumstances, but conviction.” Something I know, yes, but today it resonates, especially when it comes to how He leads on this faith walk of writing. It is so easy to be moved to elation or let down low by the “circumstance” of the stats. Thanks for the reminder and your conviction as a writer. It inspires me to carry on.
Yes is lived out.
Such truth here.
Such power for change. Truly.
I said “yes – I will write a book” in August – and I’m trying to keep my word!
I am just in love with this series.
Love this. So so much.
I need this as a marriage post and as a motivation to move post. Today I only want to say yes to taking a nap {but that’s just because I’m a bit sick}. There is so much fear in saying “yes.” So much.
Oh, I love this, Emily. So beautiful. We are on year 10 of marriage. I remember saying yes, by a river at sunset in April. Saying yes to life and to change and to dreams can be so scary. Powerful post.
Ho boy, is God rocking my world because of a tentative yes! This week I have had strangers waltz into my life and become friends because God had already equipped me to meet their needs. Answering yes can be so overwhelming, but I haven’t EVER regretted a yes to God!
I love this so much today. You are making a difference. You have always made a difference.
Wow…Loving this Emily! I just received my packet of CDs from the She Speaks conference and yours was in there. Since I couldn’t go to everything, I missed your session in person. But listening to the CD was a great encouragement. God bless you in your work! Also was checking out the Revell website and found your video. Very moving…I was moved to tears and really thought, man, I could’ve used this many years ago when I really was knee-deep in trying to be good and full of the guilt that came from failing time and time again. Thankfully, I am not trying quite so much any more. I’ve learned to get out of God’s way and let Him have His way through me, at least to a greater extent. Still, I know from what I’ve seen and heard so far, this book is ordained. A life-changer for sure. And now here I am on this lovely blog. Beautiful! I think Yes in marriage every day is very brave. My bravest moment was when I was called to lead in ministry and seriously had to look around to see who God could possibly be calling, cause it sure couldn’t be me. I was wrong! And what God did with that yes…well, changed my life wildly, beautifully, significantly. So delighted to find you! Thank you…
to write my dissertation, which can only be accomplished if i write this qualifying paper as a first step, ug, i keep putting it off
I love this! I said “yes” to doing and going wherever God wanted me to be, even if that meant moving. And of course, turns out it does
terrifying to move away from the alumni network for my law school and potentially have to start over (& take another bar exam…shiver), but more terrifying to say “no” and elevate my agenda above God’s.
I’ve been a lurker since this series began, and each post has ministered to my heart and soul. Thank you for your servanthood and voicing His words.
I don’t know what I need to say yes to. But I do recall 8 years ago being in a similar position as I am now – which is at a crossoads – and everything worked out splendidly. I’ll say yes to blind faith and trust.
@ Holly you can do this. I had to minimize several distractions and fight procrastination, and I am currently on chapter 5.
Yes, I will allow people to break down the walls I hold up.
Yes, I will follow God and allow Him to carry me when I am afraid.
Yes, I will be obedient and do what God is calling me to do today.
Thank you for your encouragement!
I’ve been pondering my ‘brave yes’ today. And yes I will believe! I adore your sweet encouraging heart!
I’m in the middle of a season of transition. Four months ago, I rented out my house, moved my things to store in my sister’s basement in another state, and moved to Africa to work with a home for orphaned and abandoned children. In less than two weeks, my time here will be up, and I will be moving back to that new state, living in my sister’s basement, and trying to figure where to work and to live.
I’m ready for the move, to do what’s next and take the next step, but other than going home, I don’t know yet what that will be. So I think my “yes” looks a little different.
Yes, I will be content in whatever place he has me now, for as long as that is.
Yes, I will choose not to waste today by worrying about tomorrow.
Yes, I will trust that he will let me know the next step, in his time.
Thanks for the lovely post- I love this. Inside our wedding bands it reads “Everyday” – because we know it’s not just about the wedding day choice. It’s about choosing each other, about choosing to say yes everyday after that. Those are the yeses that really take guts.
I wrote a devotional several years ago about the Yes within us based on II Corinthians 1:21
“God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us”
Thank you for that very timely reminder!!
Yes! I will move forward in my my dreams. Yes! I will do it afraid. Thank You so much Emily.
Am loving these posts! Your words becoming HIS stirring this heart of mine.
Fall Blessings,
Pam
You are such an encouragement to me in the beautiful words you write. I know God puts the words in your heart to share. Thank you so very much.
you have set me thinking…
i think i say yes without bravery, kind-of blindly. yes, of fear… fear of what no means. yes still implies options. no closes doors.