"But what if I change my mind?" Carla asked. "I'm scared
that I'll set a boundary with my best friend, and then she'll leave
and forget about me."
It's important to understand that your no is always subject to
you. You own your boundaries. They don't own you. If you set
limits with someone, and she responds maturely and lovingly,
you can renegotiate the boundary. In addition, you can change
the boundary if you are in a safer place.
Changing and renegotiating boundaries has many biblical
precedents: God chose not to destroy Nineveh, for example,
when the city repented (Jonah 3:10). In addition, Paul rejected
John Mark for a mission trip because the younger man had
deserted Paul (Acts 15:37-39). Yet, years later, Paul requested
John Mark's companionship (2 Tim. 4:11). The timing was ripe
to change his boundary.
As you've probably noticed, some of these myths are genuine
misconceptions you may have learned from distorted teachings.
Yet others simply result from the fear of standing up and saying
no to unbiblical responsibility. Prayerfully review which myths
have entangled and ensnared you. Search the Scripture mentioned in this chapter. And ask God to give you a sense of confidence that he believes in good boundaries more than you do.