Saying No to God

She sat next to me, trying to hold back tears…

“I don’t want to cry”, she said.

“I’m not that emotional…”

“I don’t cry every time I talk about something personal…”

“I just don’t know what to do…”

“I feel like I’m saying no to God.”

”I volunteered with the youth group until almost midnight last night…”

“Today I’ll be at church from about 9 in the morning till late at night…”

“My husband works 12 hour days six days a week this time of year.”

“The baby is up every two hours all night long…”

“I just can’t keep doing everything…

She was exhausted…

What does God say to us when we need rest?

Ex 33.14: And He said, …“I will give you rest.”

What did Jesus say about rest?

…”Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:29

She said it again… “I don’t want to say ‘No’ to God, but I don’t know how I can keep doing everything at church.”

Does God say “Put church-work first”?

or is the message slightly different?

In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success Proverbs 3:6

Everything we do?

Does that mean God goes with us outside the church?

Ex 33.14: And He said, “My presence shall go with you…

Hebrews 13:5 Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you…

Is church work the only activity that honors God?

There is a time for everything.
and a season for every activity under the heavens: Ecclesiastes 3:1

In our efforts to say “yes” to God at church, could we be saying “no” to God in other areas of our lives?

Could we be choosing the familiar way, the comfortable way, the safe way to serve God?

Could we be saying, we lack the simple faith to trust Him and follow his plans for our lives?

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11