Finding My BEST Yes

Have you ever had a decision, big or small, that you wrestled with to the point of exhaustion?  Just a year ago, I would have answered “No” to this question.  But I’ve recently seen the value of operating within God’s will for my life rather than my own (yes, it only took 37.5 yearsJ).  It was a long path that led me here.  Exposure to the ideas that each of us has a personality type (think Myers Briggs), each of us has a specific set of God-given gifts, and Lysa Terkeurst’s newest book “The Best Yes” created a perfect storm over that last week.  The storm swirled over a tough decision before lifting and leaving me with an ‘aha’ moment.   

After wrestling with a mid-size decision for over a week, this aha moment was welcomed like a cup of coffee on Monday morning.  I had the opportunity over the summer to donate half my closet to Burmese refugees in the Denver area.  Recently, an opportunity arose to teach English to these same refugees.  And this is when my internal wrestling match began.  What Christ-seeking woman wouldn’t help Burmese refugees twice a month?  It was certainly a worthwhile cause.  I have the time to do it.  So I started talking to God about it, asking for some sort of confirmation that this assignment was for me.  I was praying for the burning bush sort of sign, or maybe just a billboard along the highway, but God seemed to be pretty tight-lipped on this subject.  

I was to the point of jumping in (feet first--I’m not totally crazy), when I sought the counsel of a wise friend.  She is into understanding people’s personality types like I’m into eating chocolate, or watching Project Runway.  (I love people who can give me the cliff notes on important subjects while I spend my time with the more trivial matters of the world-Ha!)  This wise friend reminded me that my personality type likes to “get it done”.  So it could be my personality, rather than God, that was pushing me to fulfill this need for the refugees.  

Once my perspective shifted in this way, I thought through the gifts God has given me:  administration, encouragement, and faith.  These gifts didn’t align with the refugee task.  The final bolt of lightning was recalling “The Best Yes” book that I’m currently reading.  Saying yes to this task would leave me feeling stressed out and probably dreading the days I was scheduled to volunteer.  I would undoubtedly be short with my family.  Fulfilling this role was not worth the price it would cost me and my family.  

My decision was finally made and the weight lifted off my heart immediately.  God wasn’t calling me to work with the refugees.  I needed to say no in order to remain free to say yes to something else.  Something that would align me with God’s current, multiplying my time and gifts in ways that could have a bigger impact than the impact I could have relying on my own strength.  Now if only I would think to implement this approach a little earlier next time!  

Are you interested in learning more about your personality type and God-given gifts?  Use these links to take free assessments for each. 

Personality test (10 minutes):  http://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

Spiritual gifts assessment (20 minutes):  http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/test/adult