Yes.
🌾 𝖶𝗁𝖾𝗇 "𝙔𝙚𝙨" 𝖢𝗈𝗌𝗍𝗌 𝖲𝗈𝗆𝖾𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀
In Luke 1, Mary said 𝘺𝘦𝘴 to God’s call without knowing the full cost.
Her words were simple: “𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥'𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵… 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥."
In the book Extreme Devotion, I read the story of Saleema — a Christian teenager in Muslim-dominated Pakistan. She shared her faith with her friend Raheela, and that yes carried a cost far greater than most of us will ever face.
My story is different, but I’ve learned this:
—> 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝗍𝗈 𝖦𝗈𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗍𝖼𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎.
For us, it meant stepping out of the only life we’d ever known and moving to the mountains of West Virginia. We left behind the familiar streets where we raised our children, the work we’d poured ourselves into, and the comfort of being surrounded by people who knew us well.
Our son was thrilled we’d now be closer to him.
For our daughter, the distance has been harder.
We prayed for over 12 years about where to go — longing for a place that felt safe and still kept us close to both our children. God led us here, and He even hand-picked our home. If you knew the whole story, you’d probably say what we often do: “𝖧𝖾 𝗌𝖺𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗉𝗅𝖺𝖼𝖾 𝗃𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗎𝗌."
Different stories.
Different sacrifices.
But the same heart posture.
Whether the mountain is visible or hidden, Jesus is still worthy of my 𝙮𝙚𝙨.
And I trust Him to care for every heart touched by that 𝘺𝘦𝘴 — including mine.
Saying yes to God's call often involves profound sacrifices and unwavering trust, whether in biblical times or today. Mary's example in Luke 1 demonstrates a deeply committed acceptance of God's plan, despite not fully knowing what lay ahead. This kind of faith requires courage and willingness to embrace uncertainty. The contemporary story of Saleema, a Christian teenager in a Muslim-majority area, reveals the high costs that faith can sometimes demand, including social risks and personal hardship. Her bravery in sharing her faith highlights the universal theme that obedience to God may lead to trials and challenges beyond imagination. For many believers, saying yes to God means stepping out of comfort zones, as illustrated by the family's move to the mountains of West Virginia. Leaving behind familiar surroundings and loved ones is a significant part of the journey, requiring trust that God will provide and guide. This move symbolized a new chapter shaped by prayer, patience, and faith in divine guidance. The OCR phrase “Out of nowhere. God turned into a place we call Aeunprayer Rooted by Grace” further emphasizes how God can unexpectedly transform situations and places into sacred spaces filled with grace and purpose. It reflects the spiritual transformation that can happen when one commits fully to God’s call. Faith is ultimately about trusting that every sacrifice and challenge serves a higher purpose, with Jesus being worthy of our yes regardless of visible outcomes. Believers are called to maintain a heart posture of faith, trusting God’s care for every soul touched by their commitment. In facing the costs of saying yes, many experience growth, deeper intimacy with God, and a stronger sense of purpose. This spiritual journey is marked by trials but also by profound grace and blessings, encouraging believers to persevere in their devotion.
