Yikes! to Yay!
- Michelle Buchanan
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
Michelle Buchanan
In this season of following Jesus, I often find myself saying “yes” to things that feel far bigger than I can handle. In fact, most of my life feels that way in this season. I rely heavily on the Holy Spirit for guidance—when to say yes, when to say no, and when to simply wait. Sometimes the direction feels clear. Other times, I take steps forward in faith, trusting that if I’m headed the wrong way, God will redirect me.
One recent morning, I woke up with a disturbing series of thoughts surrounding, “Yikes! What have I done?”
The day before, I had purchased plane tickets for myself and a friend to travel and minister in another country. We’ve been planning this trip with a team for months, and it was finally time to make the leap. I went to bed with eagerness about the upcoming trip—in the morning, my thoughts were quite different.
As I sat with the thoughts and feelings, I began to untangle what was fueling the fear:
The cost of the trip… Big yikes!
Being out of the country for three weeks… Yikes!
The responsibility of leading a team… Can I really do this? Yikes!
The unknowns—culture, logistics, surprises… What have I done? Yikes!
Over the years, I’ve learned not to run from fear but to sit with it. I look fear in the face and release every anxious thought and feeling into God’s hands. That morning, in humility, I asked God if I had heard Him wrong. Maybe these thoughts were red flags, warning me to reconsider. I sat in silence, palms open, waiting to hear from my Shepherd.
John 10:27 – "My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me."
And then—peace.
A gentle calm began to settle over me. New thoughts emerged, slowly and steady at first and then they began to build like a quiet stream joining a flowing river. Every “Yikes!” started to transform into a “Yay!”
The money feels tight… Yay! God, You’re deepening my trust in You as my sole Provider.
Gone three weeks… Yay! You’ve carved out space for solitude between the first part of the trip and three days before the team arrives. Thank You for that gift.
Leadership responsibilities… Yay! You’ve equipped me. I get to watch You move, follow Your lead, and say “yes” to what You’re doing.
So many unknowns… Yay! You’re more in control than ever in this. I welcome the surprises You have in store—for my good and Your glory.
In less than thirty minutes, my yikes had turned into yay.
But let me be honest—it’s taken decades of walking with God, of learning to recognize His voice—often by realizing in hindsight when I had ignored the prompting and missed an opportunity.
God deeply desires that His children know Him. Not from a distance. Not vaguely. Intimately. He wants us to recognize His heart, His voice, and His will.
John 17:3 – "And this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
I have many stories of times when God prompted me to do something, and I felt unsure, but walked forward hoping I was following God. My confidence has grown over the years, but I still have moments when I’m not certain whether a thought is mine, God’s, or the enemy’s. I’m still learning, and I’d love to grow alongside you.
If this topic resonates with you, consider joining us for an online conversation on June 15 at 6 PM. I’ll share some of my stories and we’ll talk about hearing God’s voice in a safe, encouraging community of women.
Let’s walk this journey together. Comment below... In whatever you are facing. I pray for your Yikes! to turn to Yay!
