The Power of Yes: A Journey to a Life of Purpose

THE MEANING OF “YES” 

When asked what she means by the title of her book on a recent talk show, Brenda answered, “Yes to Jesus. To trusting by faith that God would lead me to places far beyond where I’d lead myself.  To the unknown.  Not knowing the outcome of our yeses is what makes them hard to give,” she acknowledges.  “But instead of leaning into the world created by my fears, I’ve learned to access one rooted in my faith by using the Bible to create the foundation for my yes.”  Brenda believes that having fear is normal, and not necessarily the absence of faith.  “Both faith and fear demand belief: We can choose to trust the deceptions fear presents, or we can choose to believe in God’s promises, even when their fulfillment isn’t yet visible.”  

Saying “yes” also demonstrates obedience, but for a different goal than we think, she explains.  “I used to believe that the journey of obedience was all about saying yes to God so we can reach our goals, but I’ve come to understand that each yes allows me to peel back another layer of who God is.  The journey of yes is the journey of drawing closer to God’s heart,” she says, adding that the culture we live in leads us to focus on ourselves.  “I’ve been guilty of … adopting this deceptive ideology that my life is better in my own hands.  Culture also conditions us to think that our life belongs to us.  It doesn’t.  It was purchased with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).”  

A MISTAKEN “YES”

Brenda says God has led her to places - both literal and spiritual – where she was greatly blessed, such as her move to CA and working at different churches where new opportunities to minister opened.  She also tells of mistaking her own desires for God’s leading at times.  One of the most painful instances was in a romantic relationship.  When her feelings for a good friend from church, whom she’d known for many years, started to deepen, as did his, she assumed it was God leading them together.  “I can’t speak for (him), but I lost sight of God within the relationship.  I don’t think I ever consulted with Him concerning the progression of our relationship.  I can’t recall myself asking, “God are You in this?”  I didn’t include Him in everything.”  After several months, Brenda saw a text on his phone that revealed he was having an inappropriate relationship with someone she also knew well, which was later confirmed.  She had been betrayed by them both and was crushed.  Internalizing her pain at first only made it worse.  Finally, she had the honest talks she needed to have, took time away, and eventually left that church.  By God’s grace, Brenda says, she was able to work through her pain, forgive both friends, and offer forgiveness.    

THE CONSEQUENCES OF “NO” 

Saying “no” to God is always an option, Brenda says, citing examples in the Bible in addition to all believers.  “The ways we say no to God can vary.  Sometimes it’s a direct refusal, like Jonah’s that makes us run away.  Other times we may say yes with our words but our hearts aren’t entirely committed and that shows in our actions – like with David or Moses.  I’ve experienced every form of no,” she acknowledges, and offers this advice: “I encourage you to reflect on what in you is making you want to say no.  For Saul, it was fear and insecurity … Similarly, Moses initially said no out of a sense of inadequacy … For Jonah, it was his own prejudices; he didn’t believe the people of Nineveh deserved God’s mercy.  When we’re constantly weighing how something will make us feel or what we’ll lose against what God is asking us to do, we may have an issue with pride.  Those concerns are self-focused.  Our no’s focus on our fears and inadequacies, rather than the potential God has placed within us to affect the world around us.”

“I want to challenge you to dig deep and examine the root of those fears.  You don’t have to worry about not being enough when God is the one calling you, because He’s a God who doesn’t lie and never fails.  If He’s within you, guiding you to take a step toward His instruction, know that you won’t fail,” Brenda exhorts.  

For more information on Brenda Palmer or to purchase her book The Journey of Yes click the LINK! 

CREDITS

Author, The Journey of Yes (Waterbrook, 2025) / conference speaker / itinerant preacher since 2023 / host of the Life in Perspective podcast / leader of the Come Alive Collective, with weekly Bible studies and “pop-up events” in various cities offering worship and preaching / current student at Denver Seminary / BA, Mississippi Valley State University, 2013 / MA, Syracuse University, 2014