Say “Yes!” by Joyce Webster, Director of Ministries at Foothills Community Church, Pasadena

While our family was living in Vienna, Austria, many, many years ago, we were faced with an uncertain future. The geopolitical world was changing dramatically in Eastern Europe. Governments had fallen, new freedoms were being introduced to former Communist countries, and new opportunities were presenting themselves to all the missionaries working in that part of the world. As a family we began to contemplate where God might be leading us now. We gave consideration to many options: staying in Vienna and continuing our traveling ministry, moving into an Eastern European country, probably Poland or someplace like Moscow, Russia, or even returning to the US to plant a church. This was a big decision, and one that seemed rather daunting. Of course, some of the options were more attractive to various family members than others. As we thought and prayer about our future, Bob challenged everyone in the family to first ask themselves what kind of person they wanted to be in a relationship with God – would we limit what we were willing to do for God or would we be willing to be people who said “yes” to God before we knew the question. That was a scary proposition because it meant the doors swung wide open for where God might lead us.

After much prayer and each of us asking God to help us, we all came together for a family meeting. At that meeting we each individually committed, and as a family committed, to being people who would set the pattern of saying “yes” to God before we knew the question. The amazing aspect of this is that to a person our family would strongly say that decision was pivotal and has led us to blessing upon blessing.

Is the call of God always to something we think we will love and are excited about? Not always. Is the call of God one that leads to joy and blessing? ABSOLUTELY!!! When the way ahead seems daunting, when God is leading you to take a path that frightens you, rest in Him. He is taking you on a thrilling ride that will allow you to see Him more clearly and understand in a deeper way what it means to trust and obey! Saying “yes” to God at that time was Him leading us to move to Pasadena and to plant Foothills Community Church. Join me ins saying “YES!”