The Girl Next Door ☎︎: Yes & Amen {Part 1: Living in the "No"}

In 2 Corinthians, the church of Corinth is a bit frustrated with Paul. Paul said he would visit them a second time, but, then, Paul faces a change of plans. In chapter 1 of his letter, Paul reminds the church that he is not being indecisive or flaky in his ministry. "As surely as God is faithful", He is not a “yes’ and a “no” but a wholehearted “yes” toward the Corinthians. In fact, he is ALL FOR the Corinthians joy (v. 24). He is not "Yes" and "No" but rather a strong, loud, confident, 100 percent "YES!"

"As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes." 2 Cor. 1:17-19

Why? "For all the promises of God find their Yes in him." Because God has said “Yes” to those in Christ and “Yes” to all His promises for Christ-followers, Paul says a “Yes” to the Corinthians. Paul's "Yes" is unified in God’s "Yes" to Believers. He is an extension of God’s faithfulness.

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him." 2 Cor. 1:20a

That means, because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we can confidently claim all God’s promises. Every single promise of God finds its “Yes” in Christ. He is always faithful, He is always working for our good, and He never says “No” to anything that is for our good. It does not matter what we say or do; God's promises rest on His grace and stay grounded in His character.

"...that is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." 2 Cor. 1:20b

This passage also explains the reason we say “Amen” at the end of our prayers. Every time we call out to God, we acknowledge that, "Yes," all that He says will indeed happen. We have this confident hope because of the work of Jesus Christ; therefore it is in Jesus’ Name that we can even say "Amen!"

Can we say "Amen" (Yes God, you will do it because of Christ) with confidence and complete faith? How much do we trust God's promises? Do we know them well enough to claim them? Do we trust them enough to live in them? Do we believe they are true for us just as much as they are true for others?

When we truly trust God's promises, when we truly believe God is all that He says He is for us because of Jesus, our lives will radically change. Trusting in God's promises involves more than just our minds. It is a heart action; we find joy in God's promises. Believing that God's promises produces genuine worship in the Lord for all He provides. We can look forward to the fulfillment of God's promises, filling us with a joyful hope even when hard times threaten to steal our happiness.

Our delight in God's promises is a stronger than our circumstances. Why? Because our joy reaches beyond what the promises can give us and finds its satisfaction in the Giver himself. Trusting in God's promises treasures Him for all He is worth. And as a result, we experience peace and rest and freedom like none other.

LIVING IN THE "NO"

So often, we replace the rest and peace of "Yes" with the fear and burdens of "No". We choose not to believe that God's promises are "Yes" for us. We say "No" to God's promises. Living in the "No" of God's promises is a life marked by fear and disappointment.

Sometimes, living in the "No" means we are quick to claim God's promises for other Believers and slow to believe they are equally true for us right here, right now. Other times, we find it hard to trust that God is working in our loved ones' hearts just as much as He is in ours. It is difficult to say “Yes” to God’s promises (protection, spiritual growth, provision etc.) for our family and friends.

Living in the "No" could also look like living in the "Not Now." We may claim some of God's promises and disregard or disbelieve others. We seek assurance in select promises and for the rest, we look to people, our own strength, or our own plans for assurance.

More often than not, we say “Yes” to God’s promises but then live like we believe “No”. We read God’s promises, say we trust them, and then take matters into our own hands. To steady our unbelief, we make to do lists, plan out all the possible scenarios, dwell in self-pity, envy other people’s lives, or let circumstances dictate our mood.

Living in the "No" effects the way we live whether we realize it or not. Unbelief takes the form of control, pride, anxiety, over-planning, over-analyzing, mood swings, doubt, shame, disappointment, and discontentment. Unbelief says "my way is better than God's" and "I alone can create peace within my heart."

And the scariest part? We can get comfortable living in the “No" of God's promises. We like control, we like feeling sorry for ourselves, we like being motivated by fear, we like making our own plans, and we like blaming our sin on our sorry circumstances.

We think we are secure in these fake “Yes's” we cozy up to. But, in reality, living in the “No” is a life ruled and motivated by fear. By exchanging "Yes" with poor, deceptive substitutes, we bow down to fear and let it dictate our actions and emotions. We miss out on the peace that surpasses understanding. We choose a cage rather than freedom.

But, because of Christ, we can trade the burden and fear and ungodliness of living in the “no” for the unwavering rest and peace and hope and joy of living in the “yes.”

In Part 2, we will see what it looks like to live in the "Yes" of God's promises.