A Bold Yes

When “Yes, Lord” Becomes “But, Lord” — Don’t Let Your Faith Stall Out

“Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, ‘Ananias!’ ‘Yes, Lord!’ he replied. The Lord said, ‘Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now…’” – Acts 9:10–14

This pivotal scripture sits right in the middle of one of the most earth-shaking transformations in the New Testament: the conversion of Saul, the persecutor of Christians, into Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. It's a story of stunning grace—but nestled within it is a lesser-known figure who played a heroic part: Ananias.

William Barclay once called Ananias one of the unsung heroes of the faith. And it’s true. With no grand speeches or public miracles to his name, Ananias’ quiet obedience helped open the door to a global gospel movement.

God shows up in a vision and calls his name—“Ananias!”—and Ananias responds the way every faithful heart should: “Yes, Lord.” What a powerful, worshipful start! An open heart, ready to say yes before even knowing the assignment.

But then the instructions come—and they’re wild. “Go find Saul of Tarsus.” The Saul. The violent man who had been hunting down Christians. The man whose reputation for hatred and destruction had reached Damascus long before his sandals did.

And suddenly, Ananias’ faith wavers. The words that come next are chilling in their familiarity: “But, Lord…”

Let that sink in: Yes, Lord becomes But, Lord.

How often does this same shift happen in us?

We say “Yes” in the sanctuary, in the quiet moments of prayer, in the emotional rush of worship. We say “Yes” when the call of Jesus fills us with purpose, belonging, and hope. But what happens when that same Jesus asks us to forgive someone who hurt us? To love someone who’s hard to love? To step out into an assignment that scares us? To speak truth to power, to be radically generous, to serve sacrificially?

Too often, our "Yes, Lord" turns into "But, Lord..."

Let’s be honest: “But, Lord” is not just hesitation—it’s a crisis of surrender. It’s saying, “You’re Lord… unless I disagree.” And when that creeps in, our discipleship starts to unravel. Obedience fades. Faith shrinks. We trade courageous living for convenient excuses.
But here’s the good news: Ananias didn’t stay stuck in his “But.” He pressed through fear and confusion, and he obeyed. He laid hands on Saul, who was then filled with the Holy Spirit, baptized, and launched into a destiny that would change the world.
Because of one man’s obedient “Yes”, churches were planted, letters were written, nations were reached, and Christ was exalted.

So here’s the challenge:

Where has your “Yes, Lord” started to sound more like “But, Lord”?
What’s the hard thing He’s asking of you? What risky obedience are you resisting?
Don’t let your discipleship stall in the gap between obedience and excuse. Don’t let fear drown out your faith. If He is truly Lord, then “Yes” must be our answer—even when it’s costly, uncomfortable, or uncertain.

Let your “Yes, Lord” be bold. Be faithful. Be final.

And just like Ananias, your obedience might unleash a ripple of redemption far beyond what you can see.