One of the hardest things to hear is the word “No”. We have our minds already made up to get and receive exactly what we desired. Growing up, I had to have my way, it was either my way or the highway. I was very spoiled in my own world, but my parents did not tolerate it. As I continued to hear the word “No,” I associated it with someone not caring for my needs, which is the complete opposite. We hear “no” for many reasons and it is often said to put us in the best position to not be in the wrong position.

At the time, I could not understand why I had to hear that word so much, I thought, “what about me and my needs?”. Similar thoughts and questions still arose, even while being in Christ. I knew that I was not in control of my life, yet I I still wanted to be. I had a difficult time coming to the realization of life. Life was not always good and often times, “no” did mean “no”. It was a hard pill for me to swallow, especially when I had been trying to control and manipulate my way through life. I never wanted things to go wrong, and it was taking no for an answer. Christ, began to open my eyes, I matured and saw the immutarity in my mindset. I had applied this immatureness in many areas of my life, and I could not fathom, that I would be the one to teach it to younger versions of me.

The students I work with are very special in their own way, and their minds don’t process as normally as they should. Some, have small emotional regulational levels, and the minute things are different or aren’t like what they had in mind, it feels like the end of the world to them. The word “no” could set off a spike and it could resonate in a negative way to them. I often have to remind them that we cannot let our emotions or what we see determine how this moment will be. There is a choice in how we receive anything in life, even if it presents itself as bad. We sometimes associate not having our way as a negative thing, but Christ has a plan and a purpose for our lives, and that means trust.

Trusting Christ fully with our lives is easier said than done, because as humans we love to plan and have our desires as is. The Lord has already orchestrated our lives, yet sometimes we still try to make a way when there was never supposed to be one. ” No” comes in the plan sometimes with Christ because our lives must align with His Will. “No” can keep us from marrying the wrong person or preventing us from the crash on the exit we usually take. The Lord’s “No” defenitely weighs value and we have to accept it. We must keep in mind that there is a purpose for everything the Lord does. We cannot find out His ways or thoughts because they are higher beyond our understanding. There is purpose in it all, the move, the door shut, the cancellation, the low funds, purpose will prevaill above it all.