Boundaries: A Charge to Keep I Have
A Day 16 devotional on saying no without guilt and guarding what God has entrusted to you with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Today's Reflection
I always felt bad for saying no.
As a recovering people pleaser, saying no can feel harsh, almost like you are hurting someone just by choosing yourself. But I am learning that boundaries are not rejection. They are stewardship.
They are about protecting what God has entrusted to you: your time, your energy, your capacity, your calling.
Because the truth is, not every yes is obedience. Some yeses come from guilt. Some come from fear of being misunderstood. Some come from wanting to be needed.
But Paul says, “Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you.” That means not everything gets access to you. Not everyone gets unlimited availability. Not every demand deserves a response.
And that is hard, especially when you are used to being the one who shows up, the one who adjusts, the one who carries.
But if God gave it to you, then you have a responsibility to protect it.
Even Jesus stepped away.
Prayer
Lord, help me to honor the boundaries You are teaching me to keep. Free me from guilt, people pleasing, and the fear of disappointing others. Teach me to protect what You have entrusted to me with wisdom, courage, and grace. Amen.