How will you respond when they say "no"?

Submitted by bob on

How will you respond when they say "no"?

Yesterday I needed a haircut, so I stopped by the barber I’ve been going to for the past 10 years. After paying, I handed the barber a small card inviting him to watch a short portion of the Jesus Film. I love these cards—they fit neatly behind my credit cards in my phone case, so I always have one ready.

I said, “You can scan the QR code to watch a 3-minute clip. If you like it, the full movie is about 90 minutes.”

He smiled and accepted the card.

This kind of interaction has happened dozens of times. Most people are appreciative or at least polite. But then I went to my regular chemist whom I have been visiting even longer. I offered the same card and said something similar… and she replied:

“No thanks, I’m good.”

And I froze. I mumbled, “Well, have a good week,” and awkwardly left the shop.

The problem? I hadn’t prepared for a "no." I was caught off guard—too confident from past positive experiences.

Image by fotor.com

 

So I did a little post-game analysis, something I often encourage others to do. Here’s what I came up with—things I could have said:

  • “Thanks for your honesty. I’ll pass this along to someone else who might find it helpful.”
  • “Totally fine! Would you like one to give to someone else you care about?”

That moment reminded me: we don’t just prepare what to say when someone is interested—we also need to think through how we’ll respond with grace when they’re not.

So here’s the challenge:
What’s your plan for when someone says no? What words will you say? What posture will you take? Practising ahead of time means we can be more gracious, less awkward, and more like Jesus—even in rejection.

Let’s pray:

“Jesus, thank you for the many people we get to talk to about you. Thank you for those who are ready and eager to hear. And thank you, too, for those who aren’t ready yet. Help us be kind and sensitive, full of grace and love even in rejection. Keep working in their hearts, and give us the wisdom to know when to try again, or when to simply keep praying. Amen.”

Thanks for all you do to connect people to Jesus and others who follow Him.