By Effie Rolfe
God’s Plan is always Biggest and Greatest! It is bigger than NO. Oftentimes, getting a “No” is God’s “Yes” to the streams and doors he created just for you. As March, Women’s History Month comes to an end, I must shine the light on Mary McLeod Bethune.
A well-known educator, political figure and founder of Bethune Cookman University, Bethune is the first Black, and first woman, to have a national monument dedicated to her in Washington, D.C., and the Mary McLeod Bethune Memorial Statue at Lincoln Park, in Chicago. Her amazing story is filled with GIANT obstacles AND GIANT triumphs!
Fortunately, I was able to attend a presentation at my workplace, the Moody Bible Institute, concerning this legendary role model. I have learned so much about Bethune’s powerful journey.
In 1894, through the generosity of a donor, she was able to attend the Moody Bible College and hopefully fulfill her girlhood dream to go to Africa as a missionary spreading the Gospel and educating the young people. While attending the college, young Bethune applied to be a missionary via the Presbyterian Missions Board. To her chagrin the 19- year-old was denied the request. The letter she wrote in response, to the board, was quite touching. Bethune basically shared that she felt it was due to racism and could not believe that Jesus would ever deny help due to the color of one’s skin. This only propelled her to her destiny of not only educating young people but all people, in the school she founded, as well as through lectures, books, teaching, civil rights activism and other mediums.
More important than her disappointment in being rejected from participating in the Missions field, is how she continued her life’s mission.
In the letter, she told the board that she knew that God had commanded her to “Go.” According to reports, by the time the Missions Board gave her a final response of “No” to representing Moody as a Missionary in Africa, Bethune had begun the long successful journey of working on Bethune Cookman College. She also worked closely with Eleanor Roosevelt on women’s suffrage and organized the ‘Black Cabinet’ in the new Deal Administration leading to African American representation in the White House that was never before seen or heard.
History is one moment in time and God’s plan is always biggest, greatest and best. And, more importantly, it is not predicated on someone else giving or not giving you a chance. Man saying “No” is not the same as God’s final answer. God truly has the last say to “NO” and otherwise…! And when we say Yes! Lord, we will see all things working together for Good! How can it be that what appears to be “No—good” is in fact real Good? Can I get a Yes and Amen? “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).”
What has “No” done for you lately?
©Effie Rolfe is an Author of “Supersize Your Thinking,” Media Personality and Motivational Speaker. You can contact her on twitter.com/effiedrolfe. Listen to her show daily on urbanpraiseradio.org. (2015 Stellar Award Winner for Best Internet Radio Station).
