When your "No" is not a good "No".

Last week I shared that there were two things the Lord had been teaching me or reminding me of during my July break. I told yall I would save the second one for The Exhale, so here it is.

This picture is of me teaching yoga... while I was on a break from teaching yoga.

If you know me, you know that when I take a break, I usually protect it. My answer is almost always, "No." Rest is important, and I have learned that not every opportunity is an assignment from God.

But when this invitation came to teach this class, my answer was immediately, "Yes."

There was no hesitation. Just a quiet nudge to do it so I did.

That experience has had me thinking a lot about the word boundaries.

Somewhere along the way, boundaries became a popular word in Christian circles. And while I believe they are good, I also wonder if we have unintentionally made them so rigid that we leave no room for the Holy Spirit to interrupt our plans.

Jesus Himself often allowed interruptions. He stopped for the woman who touched His garment. He noticed the blind man everyone else overlooked. He dined with unexpected people and changed His direction for the sake of one soul. He wasn't controlled by people, but He was always led by His Father.

There is a difference.

Healthy boundaries protect us from being driven by guilt, people-pleasing, and endless demands. But Spirit-led living keeps us available to God's divine appointments.

Maybe the goal isn't to build walls so high that nothing gets through.

Maybe the goal is to build guardrails with a gate that only the Holy Spirit can open.

That's what I experienced teaching this class.

I could have said, "I'm on break." Instead, I sensed the Lord whispering, "Sally this is why you do what you do."

Our Scripture intention for this class was 1 Peter 5:7: "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

As we moved in the class, I reminded the women that we are not called to submit to our circumstances. We are called to submit to the One who rules over every circumstance.

What if that's true for our boundaries too?

Set them prayerfully.

Honor them faithfully.

But hold them with open hands before the Lord.

Leave a little space for Him to redirect.

Leave room for the interruption that becomes someone's answered prayer.

Leave room for obedience.

Because sometimes the miracle isn't found in keeping the boundary.

Sometimes it's found in following the gentle whisper of the One who asked you to step beyond the boundary.

Perhaps that "yes" wasn't only for this class.

Maybe it was for you.

The light in me is the light of Jesus Christ, and that light honors you and prays blessings over each of you. ~ Sally