The full question is really, “Are you willing to say yes, even when everything within you cries out no?”
I know that I am not the only one who has been faced with occasions where our willingness is one thing, but the uncomfortable feeling inside of us wants to override that willingness. Our heart is willing to commit, but the battle rages internally to say no to what is outside of our comfort zone. It might be something that is totally exciting, but at the same time there exists a risk of failure. I believe that sometimes we are willing to try a new thing, but we don’t want to disappoint others. We know that they need us to be successful, which brings a level of stress.
So, what is at the root of this internal battle? I would venture to say that it is fear. Fear will always bring defeat to the forefront of our minds, willing us to succumb to its perspective.
Our pastor recently spent some time speaking to us in regard to comfort and confidence. He was telling us that the two will very often be in exact opposition to each other, and that we should expect to see it. Of course, the situations that we speak about are those that as believers we have already tested with God’s Word. They must be in accordance with what we know to be true as followers of Christ. We are not looking at moving beyond comfort if we do not have the assurance from the Holy Spirit that we are seeing truth.
The confidence, our yes, comes in agreement with what we know to be true about God and His Word. When we are fully confident that we are who God says that we are, then we will trust in His calling, and we will have the confidence to say yes.
1 John 4:17 NIV This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgement: In this world we are like Jesus.
1 John 4:17 NKJV Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world.