Last week during one of my morning prayer times, I came across this simple phrase,
“I enact my decision to say ‘yes’.”
These words have hung with me for days now. I keep repeating them over and over to myself trying to truly savor what they mean: “I enact my decision to say “yes”. I enact my choice to say “yes”. I enact my yes.” There are only a few words in this phrase, but these words carry a great deal of meaning.
So often, I exhaust myself trying to figure out how to say “yes” to God in all situations of my life, especially in those situations where I have been hurt or I struggle in some way. As I have repeated these words over and over this week, it hit me that I am not asked to figure out what to do in all situations. I am simply asked to say “yes” to God. I am simply asked to enact my decision of “yes”.
It is our decision whether we say “yes” or not. With our “yes” we are responding to God’s call. With our “yes” we are saying, “God, I want to be in relationship with you. I want to be loved by you.” Our “yes” does not mean that we immediately have everything figured out. It does not mean that we can suddenly forgive all that we want to forgive. It does not mean that suddenly we are clear on which direction we are heading. It simply means “God, your love can grow in me and my love for you can grow.”
While I do not have all the answers I seek right now, there is one thing that I can do–that we can do. We can say “yes”. We can enact our decision to say “yes” over and over again. As God’s love grows in us, our clarity and direction we seek will come as the fruit of God’s love within us and through us.
Do we enact our decision to say “yes”?
Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction.
With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.
Hey Becky,
I just emailed you back but forgot to say that I love Ignatian spirituality too! That is so neat about your ministry of doing retreats with young adults. I will have to look into that – does Charis have a website?
Peace,
Sarah