The Connection Corner

The Freedom of Saying No

Galatians 1:10 –Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

There I was again, sitting at my desk, pretending not to feel overwhelmed. I had said yes to another favor I didn’t have time for, and now I was knee-deep in a project that had nothing to do with me.

My own work sat untouched, the clock kept marching, and I was secretly furious with myself for falling into the same trap yet again.

I grew up thinking if I could just stay on everyone’s good side, life would go smoother. And maybe for a while it did. Smiles all around, no ruffled feathers. But somewhere in the middle, I started to realize I wasn’t living to please the Lord at all. I was just pleasing people.

The truth is, I was worn out. There would always be one more expectation to meet and one more approval to earn. And the more I did this, the more I knew how empty it was.

That day, with my inbox overflowing and my own work untouched, something in me snapped. I pushed my chair back, closed my eyes for a moment, and asked God for the courage to stop people pleasing.

And then I did something small, but it felt huge. I told someone “no.”

I said it kindly and gently, but it was firm. And then I went back to the work God had actually given me.

It’s not like my life changed overnight. But step by step, I started making choices that honored Him instead of everyone else’s opinions. Saying “yes” when it was right and “no” when it was wise. I learned to live with the fact that not everyone would understand, and that’s okay.

Paul said it this way in Galatians 1:10:

“Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?… If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

And let me tell you, the peace that comes with that far outweighs the false comfort of keeping everyone happy.

So now when I walk through those office doors, I can carry myself differently. Not because I’m perfect, but because I’m finally learning to live for God, not man.

Because if they never gave me life, why should they be the ones I live for?

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

In what areas of your life do you feel pressured to please others more than God?
How does Galatians 1:10 challenge your perspective on approval and purpose?
What’s one boundary you could set this week that helps you honor God first?
How can you practice saying “yes” to what God is calling you to—and “no” to what He isn’t?

October 17, 2025/by Sarah Hall

Fear Is a Mouse with a Microphone

Daily Devotional, Tammi Arender

Isaiah 35:4 – Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”

I never thought I would scream that loudly over something so small.

I had jumped up on the couch like the floor was lava, and it was all because a mouse skittered across my living room. Yes. That’s right. Three ounces of fur had reduced me to full-on panic mode.

Once my heart stopped pounding, I laughed at myself. How could something so small stir up so much fear?

But then I thought about how often I let the same thing happen in life. Tomorrow’s unknowns creep in, and I react like that mouse might eat me. Will there be enough money for that bill? Will that situation work out? What if I cannot handle what is coming?

The truth is, most of what I fear does not deserve the weight I give it. They may be frustrating, like rodents and roaches, but they are not stronger than God. He’s the One who holds my tomorrow.

Isaiah 35:4 says, “Say to those who have an anxious heart, ‘Be strong; fear not! For your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”

I looked at the spot where the mouse had vanished, and I finally smiled. Maybe the panic was not wasted after all, because it reminded me of something I forget too easily. I am not asked to carry tomorrow. I am only asked to trust that God already has it in His hands.

Tomorrow does not need your fear, only your faith.

Because when it comes down to it, a mouse in the house, or a worry in the mind, is never as powerful as it pretends to be.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What “small fears” have been taking up too much space in your heart lately?
How does Isaiah 35:4 remind you of God’s strength in the face of your worries?
What would it look like today to trade one specific fear for faith?
Can you think of a time when fear felt big—but God proved Himself bigger?

October 16, 2025/by Tammi Arender

God’s Gift In Saying Yes

Brenda Price, Daily Devotional

Psalms 68:5 — Father of the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

Michael did not set out to be a foster parent. He did not even see himself as a man of strong faith. His days were steady and comfortable, and he thought that was enough.

Then a friend suggested he get involved in a mentorship program through a church. Michael agreed. He figured a few Saturdays a month were easy to give.

Those Saturdays quickly became more than games and fast food. Two boys began showing up at his table – and in his thoughts – again and again.

They were loud and funny, but they were also vulnerable in ways Michael could not ignore. Their questions made him stop and think. Their trust, though fragile, felt weighty. Slowly, the boys began to matter more to him than he had ever expected.

When he learned the boys needed a permanent home, Michael did not hesitate. He opened his door, and in doing so, opened his life. Suddenly his once-quiet house was filled with life. Backpacks could be seen tossed in corners, video games could be heard in the hallways, and laughter could be felt rattling the walls.

It was in that chaos that Michael discovered something missing from his life: faith.

Through the boys’ presence, their need, and their love, Michael came to see what had been right in front of him all along—that God is truly a father to the fatherless, and He was drawing Michael back to Himself.

Michael liked to say he thought he was saving the boys, but in the end, they saved him.

And is that not just like God—to take what you thought you were giving away and to then give you back more of Himself? Thats the funny thing about saying yes. You think you are doing it for someone else, but then you realize it was exactly what you needed all along.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

When have you said “yes” to something that stretched your comfort zone—and found God met you there?
How has God used relationships in your life to reveal more of His character to you?
Psalm 68:5 reminds us that God is a “father to the fatherless.” What does that truth show you about His heart for people—and for you?
Is there a place in your life where God might be inviting you to say “yes,” even if it feels small or inconvenient?

October 15, 2025/by Brenda Price