The Right No and Trusting God with Your Schedule

Christee Thomas

One of the things she is most passionate about in her position at Washington Alliance is knowing that she is working for God and His people.

Do you like when your schedule changes? I thought I had a good handle on patience, but it has really been tested over the last few months. Your schedule can get thrown all off by just one little thing.

Do you let it change your whole attitude? Do you roll with the punches? I am usually the roll with the punches type of gal. Not too much stresses me out or gets to me. But when people take advantage of that, my attitude starts to change. I feel like they are expecting me to drop everything and do what they want me to do. 

I would always respond in a loving way and say no or stand up for what was best for me or the situation. When I would feel that anxious feeling start to creep in, I would say a quick prayer for guidance and use the situation as a learning experience for next time. 

I think this verse really hits home: In Colossians 3:17, it says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Well, we all have schedules, whether it’s work, school, or just your daily routine. When someone messes with that schedule, your day just seems to go out the window.  And when you say, no, this will not work, does the guilt set in for not changing your day? 

When you say, yes, I will make this work, do you really make it work or does something start stirring inside? I feel bad when I have to say no, but I have to keep myself on schedule, as well. I have my own commitments and changing things at a moment’s notice is sometimes impossible. 

You can’t say yes to everything; you must learn to say no.

Paul tells us in Ephesians  5:16 to make “the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” If you do not keep to your schedule, someone else will keep you to theirs. 

However, God does work in mysterious ways, and when you are getting frustrated with what is going on, He has already laid the path out for you.

When taking care of my dad and taking him to his appointments things were never smooth.
Some other test needed to be run, another drive into Pittsburgh needed to be made, or just the silly little thing like waiting for the doctor.  All these little things that threw off my schedule were actually giving me precious moments to be with my dad. 

See, my dad passed away from tongue cancer this past July, and he was the strongest man I ever knew. He is the one who led me to the Lord and was on fire with his faith when I was younger. Although that fire may have burnt a little lower through the years, he always knew his Savior was there right with him.  He knew where he was going, and he was on schedule to go home and be with the Lord. 

Even though my schedule was thrown off since July 12th, my dad was right on schedule to be in glory. Until we meet again. 

John 14:1-3 says, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”