Life can sometimes be tough, and the word ‘NO’ can be slammed in your face, and as a result, you could be tempted to walk away.

In walking away, some have missed opportunities and moments that could have potentially changed the trajectory of their lives.

The other day, I remembered a major turn I had taken about 2 decades ago,  which , if not taken , could have produced a different outcome for me and could have impacted on me, most likely, negatively.

I believed God was leading me in a particular direction and I believed I heard Him, so excitedly,  I prepared and went for it , only to be met with a ‘NO’ by the body responsible for making the process possible. I must say that if I wasn’t convinced that God was in it, I would have given up because it wasn’t a place where you had a lot of options if their decision was a no, but because I was sure I heard God’s instruction,  I went back and in less than 2 minutes,  I got another ‘NO'( I think the person who said no this time just wanted the pleasure of seeing my face when he said no ). I went away, prepared myself, and went back for the third time, and this time, I got a yes!

My getting a yes was not because I was one super human or anything like that, it was simply the fact that I trusted what I believed God spoke to me and I held that above the powers that be that I was dealing with and this reminded  me of the story in 1 Kings 18 of the story of Elijah and the rain.

God had given Elijah a word for the king that there was not going to be rain for some years. Elijah basically said that “until I  come and say otherwise,there will be no rain.” So, fast forward to 3 years later,God comes back to Elijah and says to him, “Go back to the king and say to him that rain is coming.” 

Now Elijah heard God as he had heard the previous times , yet this time, the rain did not come pouring down immediately. In fact, Elijah went to pray. Now, that’s the attitude we need to cultivate when things don’t seem to add up. When you know you are meant to go in a particular direction but things are happen which is taking you in the opposite direction,  you stand in the place of prayer, but not a prayer of unbelief and begging,  which we sometimes find ourselves doing when ‘things go south’  but a prayer of faith , like Elijah did, knowing that what God said would happen. 

How do I know this ? Because Elijah sent his servant to go and look in anticipation.  Elijah knew the rain was coming. It was only a matter of time, so when his servant came back with a no, Elijah sent him back saying, ” GO AGAIN.” This happened six times ( mine was only 3 times, though I would have gone 7 if that was what it took ).

You have to be determined to see God’s promises happen for you. God doesn’t repent of His promise,  so you better take hold of it and make it personal until it truly becomes personal.

By the seventh time, the man said I can see what looks like it.”There is a cloud , as small as a man’s hand , rising out of the sea!”he said to Elijah, and the rains came!

NO doesn’t necessarily mean pack up and leave, it does not mean abandon your vision,  it can mean try again,  try harder, try a different approach,  find another time but don’t give up !

What projects have you abandoned in the past because you experienced what seemed like a closed door? Have you faced rejection to the point where you now expect it ? Are your ears so used to hearing NO that it is now a normal word ?

It is time to go back to the very place you were rejected and give it another go, pick up that project that you failed so woefully at, revisit that dream. You may need to change your tactics if that is what it takes, but don’t give up on the dream!

Every blessing

Kingdom