I remember, as a little boy, I would attempt to do anything to prove that I had some ounce of manly strength within me, just like my father. I would attempt lifting heavy things and carrying out strenuous chores, just to feel that essence of manliness dripped into my seemingly juvenile mixture. However, I was emphatically greeted many times with the statement “no Chad, NO!”. That word “no” bounced through my mind like an unwanted Frisbee and I desired to feel the unhampered wind of manliness and freedom. I was ready for greatness, I was ready for the “now”. I was ready to show that I am all about “YES, YES, YES”!

In calling this generation “Generation Yes”, there could be several implications made. As a reader, you must understand that I am not in support of every answer always being “yes”. Sometimes the best answers are “no” and “wait awhile” or “be patient”, or even “absolutely not”.

Then there is the other side to this “Generation Yes”; the side where the expression of talent and the utilisation of talent to gain income and to further one’s self has been stamped with a big green “YES” by the individual. Yet, society has stamped it with a big red “NO”. Let us take a look at both sides.

The Impatient Side

Both sides of this “Generation YES” portrays two youthful traits; impatience and ambition. The first side stated before reveals the impatient side. This is the side where this “Generation YES” would love to here “YES” for everything. If a young lady wants to dress in any clothing of her choice (revealing, concealing or non-existent) she would rather hear “YES” from her parents than a stern rebuke. For the young men, instead of hearing “be back home by 9 pm” they would rather hear “YES, stay out as late as you can”.

It even goes way back to the toddler stage, when babies would tell themselves “YES, touch the fire”. They would then begin crying if the instruction of “NO’ is given, followed by the parental tugging of the hand away from the flame. It then goes right up to the moment when a young lady would avail herself to any young man who desires her, and vice versa, without wanting to hear the stern warning of “NO, it is not wise” or “NO,think about it” or “NO, pray about it”. Then there is the choice-making process in terms of jobs, schooling, career opportunities, and the like. It is evident that all our lives we want to be told “YES”, but we must ask ourselves, “should we?”.

The Ambitious Side

The other side is what I described as the ambitious side. This side gives revelation to the case where “NO” isn’t always the best answer, especially for an ambitious young individual.  

As a university student and an individual heavily involved in youth ministry at church, I encountered various cases of what I call “unhealthy passion sacrifice”.  Various persons pursue degrees, subjects and jobs only because society approves them as legitimate and conducive to monetary gain. However, the youth suffer inside. Many lawyers sit in their offices wishing to get paint brushes and slash colours across canvases. Many people sitting at their desks wish they were working in medical fields to help others in need, or in recording studios producing and playing music. These are their true passions, but these passions are sacrificed for various reasons, which later would become unhealthy for the individual.

It is time that our “Generation YES” wake up to both the realities and the possibilities. In these very disturbing days, discernment and ingenuity are needed more than ever.

In Judges 6, we encounter a young man by the name of Gideon. God had called Gideon to deliver Israel from the hands of the Midianites. Gideon, on the other hand, had everything else but good self-esteem. After all, you would say he should be excused to not have it, right? The times were hard. But in actuality those times aren’t much different from now, except with the enhancement of technology. Just as the Midianites caused oppression upon the land, so is oppression still peaking its ugly head above our horizons, which were intended to be the scene of our sunrises of hope.

Today, marriages are falling apart, young people are dropping out of school when they shouldn’t, corruption is everywhere, sexually transmitted diseases are spreading like wildfire, fuelled by continually burning tanks of lusts. Its a huge mess! This “Generation YES”, however, is placed in the same position as Gideon. We (yes I said “We”) have the power to say “YES” and to discern whether to say “YES” or “No”. In the case of Gideon, Gideon didn’t believe he could do what God called him to do. However, Gideon was greeted with this powerful message:

“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, the LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”

– Judges 6:12 (KJV)

This Generation must know that God is with them and God wants to be with them always. This Generation must know that they are mighty and full of valour. This Generation must realise that the choices of today would affect the tomorrow of their lives and the lives of those around them.

There would be a time to exercise that “YES” power and then there will be a time when the “NO” option should be embraced. Today, our “Generation YES” should aspire to be known as “Generation BLESSED”, “Generation HOPE”, “Generation FAITH” and “Generation LOVE”. Let this be the generation that would be bold for Christ.

Gideon was afraid, but God didn’t leave him alone. Gideon, later on, in Judges 8, led Israel to a marvellous victory over the Midianites. Anything is possible with God. There are times, though, that people would not appreciate what God uses you to do. Even in Gideon’s case this was so, for in Judges 8:35 it stated that “the children of Israel did not show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon’s house), according to all the goodness that he had showed to them“. However, do not just aspire to be the “Generation YES” who would thrive on hearing a “YES” from anyone; be a “GENERATION TRUST GOD”, so that all decisions you make will please Him, whether or not society will be appreciative.

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