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Just Say "No!"

Listen,
Just because you are CAPABLE of doing 'abcxyz' does not mean it is CALLED FOR in a particular moment/setting/position.
Always ask yourself:
1) Is this necessary?
2) Are my gifts being abused?
3) Is my spirit in alignment with what's being asked of me?

I have many capabilities and I'm constantly learning to say "No." Because of my extensive performance background and various academic interests, I get asked to do many things that are sometimes intincing, sometimes annoying, yet often a departure from the tasks at hand. For example: I work at a church. I am temporarily over children's ministries. I preach from time to time and I teach often. What I do not do, however, on a regular or assigned basis is openly share my performance gifts. I quietly and subtly incorporate them into various parts of my ministry, but I was not hired to be a performer in this space, AND I AM OKAY WITH THAT! [Read Blog on this!]

Thus, I've had to learn to find comfortability in unapologetically saying "No" to some requests. This "No" is not because I'm shy or I'm running from my gifts. Prior to my call to ministry, I had a very fruitful performance career that I will always cherish, and I still exercise those skills both within my ministry and beyond; yet, when I said "Yes" to God back in 2015, I was aware that I couldn't juggle every ball at the same time AND still leave room for growth in this unknown abyss that God was (and still is) beckoning me to. Thus, saying "Yes" to God was saying "Yes" to growth and exploration of the unknown, and therefore, saying "No" to the things that reside in my comfort zone.

My "No" is not me hiding or me being uncooperative. My "No" is me setting boundaries so that I can focus on what God is requiring of me in the moment/space/position. Sometimes, God wants me to pour my attention into developing a certain skill--into honing a confidence in an area of leadership that I don't have much experience in. Often, God wants me to pour my time into restoration--time that is only made available when multi-talented, multitaskers like myself say "No" to some things and some people.

And that "No" may not be a forever "No." It doesn't mean that I'll never do 'abcxyz' for you in church/school/the world. Perhaps, that "No" means, "what you are asking of me is a not necessary in this moment/is a distraction from the task at hand, and/or my spirit is not in alignment with it."

I trust that my gifts will show up in the work. I don't need to force them or show my full hand at every chance. Our gifts will make themselves known without our marketing assistance.
Because of this, I can say "No" and be confident that the "Yes" will make room for itself.
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