Choose Yes?
Movies never seem to get God right and that is especially true of comedies. Occasionally, one comes along that is theological baloney but inadvertently offers a profound truth. Bruce Almighty, starring Jim Carrey, is one of those. The scene in point is where the Bruce character is given the power of God for a time, and finds himself on the receiving end of prayers. He can’t handle it and ends up with a computer connection (imagine that) that allows him to say yes to everyone. Of course, chaos ensues.
In reality, two of the most powerful words in any language are yes and no, and it frequently seems like no is the easier to say. It’s often the default position of parents, because to say yes means really taking time and giving thought to the merits of the request. Yes is powerful and, like children, we are all looking for a yes from others and also from God.
We all use yes to affirm others, to agree or consent, to give compliments, and to express joy or sorrow. We also use it in sarcasm, derision, and scorn. One of the things I have noticed, over many years of dealing with people who have experienced loss or injury, is that we all like to hear our own name in the same sentence with the word, yes. I often will answer a phone call with a “Yes, Barb (Jim, Mark, Linda), how may I help you…” Even if the conversation leads to a no, I have affirmed the value of the person right up front.
Whole philosophies in the art of negotiation have been built around how to say yes, without really saying it. In the 1960′s, Herb Cohen (sometimes called the “Master Negotiator”) popularized a concept from the 1940′s mathematical formulation of something called Game Theory. We know it as win-win. In the 1980′s, Stephen Covey wrote about it in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Also in the ’80′s, Fisher and Ury wrote a best-selling book entitled, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, coining the acronym BATNA, meaning “Best Alternative To Negotiated Agreement .”
Christians often find themselves petitioning God for something as though He needs to be convinced, in a sense looking for the win-win, or the BATNA, in spiritual realms. Our focus is on our problem, and there is nothing wrong with that – problems are real. They are not beyond God’s promised provision, but sometimes our perspective needs eternal finetuning.
You may have heard it said that God’s answers to our prayers are Yes, No, and Wait. I would like to suggest a change. It is my personal conviction that God always answers YES to our prayers, and in the matter of timing He seeks to teach us dependence and patience. He is the God of yes, never of no or maybe.
In coming posts we will look at the way we use yes and how it appears in Scripture. The last post will offer three things to keep in mind about this whole discussion of the great word, yes. First, it is always within the character of God to affirm our petitions. Second, Asking in faith is a good thing. Finally, it is not a failure of faith if we do not receive the answer we are seeking, nor is God saying no to us.
Strength and honor
