[Ep 67] We Have a Hard Time Saying and Accepting "No"

Today, we are going to talk about a problem that so many of us struggle with—and it's actually a two-fold problem: saying no to someone's invitation to help and then also accepting no as an answer to your offer of help. But why are we talking about this in the first place? I mean, do we really have a hard time saying no to others when we need to? When they offer something we don't really need? Are we really okay when we offer help to someone else and they decline? Here's why I bring this up: when I go to upload my podcast episode for you to listen to, I can see the top downloaded episodes over the past month or year or even since I started the podcast. And recently, when I went to do this, I saw that the top episode had shifted. What now takes the top place is episode 15, How to Decline Someone's Offer of Help Gracefully. I thought that was interesting and mentioned it to my husband. But then upon further review, I saw that the third most downloaded episode is the one right before it, episode 14, How to Respond When a Friend Won't Let You Help. And it was then I realized that we struggle with this on both sides: we have a hard time saying no to someone and we also have a hard time hearing no from someone else. Let's explore why… Kari   ADDITIONAL RESOURCES + BIBLE VERSES: Episode 14: How to Respond When a Friend Won't Let You Help Episode 15: How to Decline Someone's Offer of Help Gracefully Romans 1:12 (NLT): "When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours." Colossians 4:12 (NIV): "Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured." Romans 15:30 (NLT): "I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit." ______ >> Written Spiritual Direction: Recognize God's presence in your pain http://lovedoesthat.org/spiritualdirection >> Soul Care Group: Monthly email with soul care and spiritual formation practices http://lovedoesthat.org/soulcaregroup