Sometimes "No" is the Kindest Answer You Can Give

The thing I love most about my husband (and there are certainly quite a few things) is the way he brushes annoyances off his shoulders and moves on with his life.

He always says, "We're living for Jesus, not for them."

The "them" is typically anyone I feel the need to people please.

So pretty much everyone on the planet.

I have been getting better about this, though. God's been showing me the difference between loving people and pleasing them.

I think we often believe being "nice" and "accommodating" is being a true follower of Jesus.

But being a true follower of Jesus is being obedient to Jesus, which might ruffle the feathers of those around us, even our fellow believers.

Case in point, I was once upon a time a "do everything at church that's asked of you" type of person. But again, thanks to my husband, who takes heeding God's call very seriously, I'm aware that sometimes, "no" is the kindest answer you can give.

Because a "no" to someone's question can often be a "yes" to God.

And guess who I want to say "yes" to more than anyone?