Weekly Words

When the World Tells You No

The story is told of Henry Ward Beecher’s experience in his algebra class. Beecher is one of the most famous preachers in American history and brother to Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. One day in class Henry was sent to the blackboard to solve a problem and in the midst of his attempt the teacher calmly and coldly interrupted with, “NO.” Henry stopped, erased the board, and began again only to be greeted with another fierce and forceful “NO.” Embarrassed, Henry quit and sat down. Another boy got up and, in spite of being interrupted with a “NO”, finished the problem and sat down to the teacher’s appraisal. Henry cried, “I recited it just as he did and you said “NO!” In response, the teacher said, “It's not enough to know your lesson you have learned nothing till you are sure. IF all the world says No, your business is to say Yes…”

Now I’ve got good news and I’ve got better news!

This anecdote from history is so illuminating and insightful because all of us have had our life, efforts, and/or dreams interrupted by a “No” that was so forceful it tempted us to quit and sit down in embarrassment. Someone reading right now can be honest enough to admit that there is some goal in which you’ve given up, some wish you’ve walked away from, some degree you’ve declined to pursue or some cause that you’ve ceased to champion. Though your spirit said yes, you have let or are being tempted to let the world tell you “No.” The good news is your “Yes” can be bigger than the world’s “NO.” It was Maya Angelo’s yes to poetry that spoke louder than the “no” of her former life of prostitution. It was Oprah’s yes to success that spoke louder than the “no” of an abused childhood. The same “Yes” that was in them is in you.

But I’ve got better news.

In a world where haters, enemies, friends and even family members tell us No, we have a God who tells us “YES.” “Yes,” you are good enough. “Yes,” you are smart enough. “Yes,” you are beautiful enough. “Yes,” you are valuable enough. “Yes,” you are worthy enough. “Yes,” you deserve to be loved. “Yes,” you can start your own business. “Yes,” you can earn that degree. Yes, yes, yes!!!! This is the power of the Incarnation manifested through Jesus Christ. When the world was telling the Israelite people “No,” God sent Jesus to tell them “Yes.” When the world told Jesus “No” through crucifixion, God told Jesus “Yes,” through resurrection. And that’s all I’ve come to tell you this week. Live the rest of your life from this day forward in God’s “yes.” Reflecting on that day in algebra Beecher said, that day was “the hour when I was delivered from the bondage of I can’t, and born into the glorious liberty of I can.” And this day I’ve been sent to tell you, that if all the world tells you “No,” your business is to join God in saying “Yes.”

Humbly in Christ’s Love,
Pastor B.A. Jackson