There’s something holy about a well-placed “No.”
In a world that constantly demands our “Yes”—our time, our peace, our presence—learning to say “No” is not just wise. It’s biblical. Even Jesus Himself didn’t say “Yes” to every person, crowd, or situation that called His name.
“Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”
— Matthew 5:37 NLT
Whew. If that ain’t the red-letter clapback of the century.
When we feel pressured to justify our “No,” what we’re really doing is apologizing for protecting our peace. But sis, your peace is divine property. Not everyone gets a key to your temple. Not everyone is meant to sit at your table. And that’s okay.
We’ve all had that moment—standing in the mirror, channeling our inner Olivia Pope, whispering:
“It’s handled.”
…except this time, it’s not about fixing someone else’s mess. It’s about fixing your focus and protecting your purpose.
It’s also about honoring your capacity. Even God Himself rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). And if the Creator of the universe can take a divine pause, so can you.
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
— Proverbs 4:23 NLT
So, next time someone gives you that guilt-trip tone because you chose rest over running yourself ragged, remember this truth:
“No” is not rude. “No” is not un-Christian. “No” is stewardship.
And if they don’t understand that?
In the immortal words of Toni Morrison,
“You are not required to explain your boundaries to people who are committed to misunderstanding them.”
© 2025, Lela Fagan. All rights reserved.
