Who Is Your 'No'?
The Uncomfortable Ask
In Acts 9:10-14, we meet Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, who receives an unexpected and daunting call from God:
Acts 9:10-14 (ESV)
"Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, 'Ananias.' And he said, 'Here I am, Lord.' And the Lord said to him, 'Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.' But Ananias answered, 'Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.'”
Ananias is understandably hesitant. Saul, also known as Paul, has been persecuting and killing Christians. He’s notorious for hunting them down. And now, God is asking Ananias to find this man? It doesn’t make sense. You don’t seek out someone like Saul—he finds you. And he destroys you.
Ananias is essentially saying “no” to Saul. He’s wrestling with fear and reluctance, just as we do when faced with someone we don’t want to share the Gospel with.
Who Is Your 'No'?
We all have one. That one person in our life we’ve decided is too difficult, too hostile, or too far gone to hear about Jesus. It could be someone who has hurt you, someone who you think won’t listen, or someone whose lifestyle or beliefs seem completely opposed to yours.
- No, I won’t go.
But here’s the reality: when it comes to sharing the Gospel, saying “no” isn’t an option.
God knew everything about Saul’s past, yet He still called him a chosen instrument to carry His name before the nations:
Acts 9:15-17 (ESV)
"But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.' So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.'”
Imagine how Ananias felt as he walked toward Saul. Fear, doubt, maybe even anger. God, do You really know who this man is? Do You remember what he’s done?
Have you ever felt like you had to remind God about someone’s past? To remind Him why they aren’t worthy of His grace?
But in the end, Ananias obeys. He walks into that house, places his hands on Saul, and calls him “Brother Saul.” That’s a shift from fear to faith.
Would You Allow God to Turn Your “No” Into Your “Brother”?
Ananias didn’t see Saul as an enemy anymore—he saw him as a brother in Christ. What a transformation. And God didn’t just change Saul that day; He also changed Ananias. By choosing to go, Ananias not only witnessed Saul’s healing but also saw a powerful picture of God’s grace at work.
Acts 9:18-19 (ESV)
“And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.”
The scales falling from Saul’s eyes were more than just physical—they symbolized a deeper spiritual transformation. The man who once hunted Christians was now one of them, chosen by God to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles.
What’s more, I believe this was a powerful moment for Ananias, too. God allowed him to witness Saul’s transformation firsthand, to see the grace and power of God at work in someone he had every reason to avoid. Without Ananias, Saul wouldn’t have regained his sight, and his journey to becoming Paul might have looked very different.
So, let me ask you again: Who is your “no”?
We all have a “no.” Someone we resist sharing Jesus with because of past hurts, fear of rejection, or doubt that they’ll ever change. But God calls us to go, regardless of our feelings. He calls us to love, to share the Gospel, and to trust Him with the results.
We Might Have Every Reason To Say No, But We Don’t Have the Right To.
Why? Because Jesus commands us to go:
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
That command isn’t conditional. It’s not based on whether or not we like the person or whether we think they’ll listen. It’s a call to obedience. The Gospel isn’t ours to keep hidden—it’s a gift meant for everyone, even those we find hardest to love. But here’s the good news:
God Has Enough Grace For Your “No.”
He knows your fears and the reasons you hold back. And His grace not only forgives you for saying “no” in the past but also gives you the strength to say “yes” now. Just like He did with Ananias, God will give you the courage to share with the people you’re avoiding, and He will work through your obedience.
And here’s the beautiful part: God has enough grace for the person you’re saying “no” to as well. That person you think is too far gone? God is pursuing them, just as He pursued Saul. They might be God’s chosen instrument for something you can’t yet see.
Identify your “no” and go. God’s grace is big enough for both of you.
So, when you think about your “no,” remember this: God’s grace is big enough for both of you. He can turn your resistance into relationship. He can take the person you fear sharing with and turn them into your brother or sister in Christ.
Identify Your “No” and Go.
God’s grace is big enough for both of you.