When you quiet yourself, what does that look like?
Sometimes, quieting ourselves can lead to service.
Not an impulsive “yes” to every request or opportunity that comes our way, but an intentional, prayerful yes to something God is placing before us.
In John 15, Jesus describes Himself as the vine and us as the branches. He invites us to abide—to remain connected to Him as our source of life, strength, and direction. Before we decide where to go or what to do, we are called simply to remain in Him. That’s not always easy for me.
I am a person of action. I like to get things done. The other side of that strength is that I can become anxious—focused on what isn’t working, what needs to be fixed, or what needs to happen next.
On my computer monitor, I’ve taped a simple note with one word:
Quiet.
It reminds me to slow down. To quiet the noise around me—and sometimes within me. To be intentional about my “yes.” To ask God to test my anxious thoughts and remind me once again that He is in control.
And He is.
God continues to provide abundantly for everything we need to live out the work of this Rescue Mission. My hope is to remain connected to Christ closely enough that He—not my anxiety, my calendar, or my desire to get things done—is directing the next step. The right next step.
The most impactful yes.
Thankfully, I am surrounded every day by people doing exactly that. I see quiet yeses all around the Rescue Mission.
- A volunteer says yes to arriving at 4:30 in the morning to help serve breakfast.
- A community partner says yes to working together rather than working alone.
- Someone says yes to driving a guest to an important medical appointment.
- A new team member says yes to the challenges and opportunities of serving people in crisis.
- A physician says yes to becoming our Volunteer Medical Director.
- Board members say yes to greater responsibility and leadership.
- Donors say yes to sharing what God has entrusted to them.
- And sometimes a husband and wife say yes to one another—and fifty years later are still saying yes to God by serving others together.
None of these decisions by themselves may seem extraordinary. But imagine the cumulative impact of thousands of faithful, prayerful yes.
- Meals are served.
- People receive healthcare.
- Families have food.
- Someone finds a safe place to sleep.
- A person struggling with addiction begins recovery.
- A neighbor discovers that they are not alone.
- Lives change.
That’s the power of a quiet yes.
There is an important balance here. God isn’t asking us to say yes to everything. A hurried yes can leave us exhausted and distracted from the things He actually intends for us to do.
That’s why we abide. We become quiet enough to listen.
And when Christ leads us toward an opportunity to love our neighbor, use our gifts, or serve someone in need, we can respond with confidence.
Yes.
Christ empowers that yes—and God multiplies its impact in ways we may never fully see.
So I’ll leave you with the question I’ve been asking myself: Is Christ placing a quiet yes on your heart today?
If that yes might lead you toward Helping Hurting People in Jesus’ Name, we’d be honored to help you explore the possibilities.
You never know what God might do with your yes.
By C. Lee Clark, Rescue Mission CEO