It’s funny. Humans don’t like to be told “No,” but often when we hear it, we consider it a personal challenge.
If there is something I really want, I will go after it until I get it, even if I’m initially rejected. Books have been written about this sheer tenacity. Grit. Perseverance. Stubbornness.
I don’t see “No” as “No.” I see it as “Not yet, Mary, you still have some work to do.” So I do the work, and I try again. And again. And again, until I get a “Yes.” And when I look back on the lean years when I didn’t have what I wanted, I don’t see them as years spent in rejection. I see them as years spent busting my ass so that the next time I asked, the answer would be “Yes.”
Eventually, if you don’t give up your dreams and desires, the answer will be “Yes.” But most people can’t hang in there long enough to get that “Yes.” It takes a lot of work.
Say you’re driving to work, or an interview, or a concert, or a gathering, and you want to be on time. Suddenly you hit a detour, and you realize that you can only go left, right, or back in the direction you came. You know you’re never going to make it on time now. Do you say,
“Screw it, might as well just sit here at this roadblock for the day.”
Or,
“Day’s ruined, might as well go home and go back to bed.”
Of course not. You find a different way to get to your destination. Why should our journey in life be any different?
This is not to say that we are not kept waiting. Oh boy, are we kept waiting, days, weeks, months, YEARS at a time. And when I’m waiting for my “Yes,” I have a small poem I refer to. This has been taped on my kitchen wall for years since I saw it in my local church bulletin.
The Blessing of “No”
I asked God to take away my pride.
God said “No.” It is not for me to take away, but for you to give up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said “No.” Her spirit is whole, her body only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said “No.” Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is earned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said “No.” I give you blessings, happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said “No.” Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said “No.” You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you more fruitful.
I asked for all things so that I might enjoy life.
God said “No.” I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to love others, as much as He loves me.
God said, “Ah, you finally have the idea.”