Your Yes Matters

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” – Isaiah 6:8.

(I know I’ve used this verse before but it’s a powerful favorite!) 

My wife and I were blessed to grow up in a church that placed a high value on global missions and on serving others. That shaped us. In 1995, Heidi and I went on our first mission trip together, to the Philippines, and it changed everything. My motives may have been selfish…I was in love with Heidi, and she was going on the trip; and there would be multiple youth basketball camps too, and hoops was my first love!  This was a trip I had to be part of, so I mowed lawns like a mad man just to go. But it was on that trip to the Philippines that God captured my heart. I was blown away by His love for His people—everywhere.

I had no special qualifications. I wasn’t the smartest guy in the room. I didn’t have more talent than the next. I still don’t.  But I’ve tried, again and again, to say yes—to take up challenges with risky obedience and take up towels in willing service.

In late 2011, just after South Sudan became independent, my friend Chris Ness invited me to be part of the first ever national children’s church leaders’ conference. We trained 25 leaders to value children and to speak their language, making the story of Jesus’ love accessible to and exciting for them, and it was an honor. I still don’t know everything God did through that unique opportunity, but I know this: I said yes, and I just might have been part of a foundational kingdom-moment in a brand-new nation. That still humbles me.

A few years later, we found ourselves saying yes again—to Zambia. Moving there with our four young boys became the greatest adventure of our lives. We definitely gained family. We gained sons. We found joy and purpose in ways we never imagined.

While living in Zambia, our family also visited Chief Chitambo’s village near Kasanka—a special place with a memorial marking the site where one of my missionary heroes, David Livingstone’s heart is buried. His friends placed it there because they knew Africa had his captured heart. He never saw the full fruits of his labor—but he was part of something monumental. Standing there felt like standing on sacred ground.

Listen here, lions…

Your yes leads to adventure.

Your yes brings glory to God.

Your yes might even get you honored in ways you didn’t expect

—like I was in South Sudan, almost accidentally.

Your yes will lead to family, joy, legacy—and maybe even walking in the footsteps of giants.

Lions know their yes matters.

When Isaiah said, “Here I am. Send me,” he had no idea what it would cost. But that yes unlocked a calling that echoed through generations.

The same happened with Abraham. When God called him in Genesis 12, God didn’t hand over a map. He just said, “Go to the land I will show you.”

That yes launched a covenant that shaped history.

Your story can echo that same heartbeat:  You may not have all the answers.  You might not feel qualified.  You may not see the whole path ahead.  But your yes can launch a legacy.

Even on a reality show like Survivor, this truth comes to life. I recently watched an old season wherein a man from Kentucky stood on the edge of an ocean that obviously scared him. He needed to dive down eight feet and release buoys from a cage to keep his team in the game, but, paralyzed by fear, he froze. Then the host leaned in and said, “This is why you’re here. Commit! And see what happens.”  He dove in. He completed the task. He came to the surface in shock!  He was different…more capable than even he thought!

That’s what your yes does. It activates faith. It changes your story.

Saying “yes” to God rarely makes perfect sense. It can feel risky, uncomfortable, even reckless. But heaven leans in when someone says yes.  Your yes might be to a mission.  It might be to forgive someone.  To starting something new. To leading. To loving. To letting go. 

Whatever it is—if it’s God who’s asking—your yes matters.

Here are a few questions for reflection this week…

1. What is something God is inviting me to say “yes” to right now?

2. Is fear or hesitation keeping me on the sidelines?

 3. What could happen if I went all in and trusted God?

 And a powerful prayer to pray this week…

Lord, thank You for inviting me into Your story. Give me the courage to say yes, even when I feel unqualified, afraid, or uncertain. I don’t want to stay on the sidelines any longer. I want to step boldly and fully into the lion-level adventure You have for me. Amen.