Too many of us have been conditioned to flinch at the word No. It echoes like failure, feels like rejection, and lodges deep in the heart as if we weren’t good enough, worthy enough, or ready enough. But the truth is—No doesn’t have to be the end of our dreams.
Sometimes that “No” is divine redirection. It’s God whispering, “That’s not what I have for you.” And if we’re honest, some of the things we begged for in the past—jobs, relationships, opportunities—would’ve pulled us away from our purpose had we received them. Thank God for the doors that didn’t open.
But here’s where it gets real: hearing No too often can make us stop trying. We stop asking. We stop dreaming. And eventually, we settle. Not because our dreams weren’t valid, but because we let fear of rejection speak louder than the fire God placed in our hearts.
Saying “keep going” after a No doesn’t mean pretending it didn’t sting. It means trusting that even disappointment can be holy. It means reminding ourselves: our worth isn’t tied to someone else’s approval. And every No we face is a setup for the right Yes.
So dream anyway. Ask anyway. Show up anyway. When No shows up at your door, don’t pack up and walk away. Stand firm. Trust God. And know that sometimes, the No isn’t punishment—it’s protection. It’s purpose. It’s a better Yes in the making.
Inside the mind of cree 