Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place …Mark 1:35–37
There is a sacred strength in the word no—a strength many believers struggle to embrace. We are often taught that obedience means constant availability, endless sacrifice, and saying yes at all costs. But Scripture shows us something deeper, wiser, and more powerful: even Jesus said no.
In Matthew 1:35–37, we read about a divine moment that could have been misunderstood if viewed through human expectations alone. The angel declares to Mary that the Holy Spirit will overshadow her, that what is conceived in her is holy, and that “nothing will be impossible with God.” This passage is often read as a message of surrender—and it is—but it is also a lesson in divine boundaries.
Mary’s yes was not coerced. It was not rushed. It followed clarity, confirmation, and alignment with God’s will. Her yes came after God set the terms—not the expectations of people, culture, or fear. That means embedded in this moment is the understanding that saying yes to God often requires saying no to everything else that competes with His purpose.
And Jesus Himself modeled this throughout His life.
There were moments when crowds pressed Him, demands multiplied, and expectations grew heavy—yet Jesus withdrew. He said no to premature kingship (John 6:15). He said no to performing miracles on demand (Matthew 12:38–39). He said no to being controlled by urgency instead of obedience, often retreating to pray (Luke 5:16). Jesus understood that not every need was His assignment.
An Analogy: The Gate and the Garden
Imagine your life as a carefully tended garden. God plants purpose, promise, and potential within it. A gate stands at the entrance—not to keep you isolated, but to protect what is growing. If the gate is never closed, anything can wander in: weeds, predators, and distractions that choke the life out of what God planted.
Saying no is not rejection—it is protection. Jesus didn’t close the gate because He lacked compassion; He closed it because He understood timing, mission, and stewardship of His calling. The garden flourishes not because everything is allowed in, but because discernment guards what matters most.
Scripture reinforces this truth again and again:
- Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
- Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?”
- Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
Jesus lived anchored in divine timing. He was never rushed by pressure, guilted by expectation, or manipulated by urgency. His no was just as holy as His yes.
For women of faith—especially those who have been conditioned to overgive, overexplain, and overextend—this truth is liberating. You are not disobedient for saying no. You are not unloving for setting boundaries. When your no protects God’s will in your life, it becomes an act of worship.
Nothing is impossible with God—but not everything is permitted by God. Discernment teaches the difference.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for showing us through Your Word that boundaries are not barriers, but blessings. Teach us to discern when to say yes and give us the courage to say no when something pulls us away from Your will. Help us follow the example of Jesus—anchored, obedient, and unafraid of pressure. Guard our hearts, our time, and our purpose. May our no be holy and our yes be fully surrendered to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.