What about when God says No?

When we pray for something and God says “No” – this is personally one of the hardest things I have had to overcome in my Christian walk. 

Some of the “no” answers I have encountered relate to job offers, relationships I had to let go of, even most recently when it comes to life and death, my Aunty passed away as a result of Covid-19. As you reflect on some of the “no” answers you have received, I want to acknowledge that it is hard. It can be a really heartbreaking and confusing time. I want to say that firstly, you are in good company. Paul, one of the main contributors to the New Testament, asked God to remove a thorn piercing his side three times and God said No (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Another example is when Jesus pleaded with God before His death, to ask God to take away His suffering and execution on the cross but God said no (Matthew 26:39).

Furthermore, I want to remind you that in the “no”, God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9), He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and He causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

So why might God tell us no? Because…

God has something better

God is not a man, He sits outside of time and space and knows the beginning from the end. He reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that His thoughts and ways are not like ours, they are higher. Because of that fact, we cannot perceive the “no” in the same way. We are limited by our human understanding, and that is why He reminds us to not lean on our own understanding, but in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our path (Proverbs 3:5-6). He will show you the way to His perfect will for your life and inside of His will is the safest place.

…it might be a no, not yet 

It is important to remember that God is sooooo strategic, His plans are meticulous and sometimes we want the blessing before we are actually ready for it;  whether we realise it or not. God knows when we are ready for X,Y or Z. The process is an important time of growth, maturity and refinement. The Bible says after you have suffered a little while God will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast (1 Peter 5:10). When you persevere through the process, the Bible says you will be complete and lacking nothing (James 1:4) – how wonderful. 

Remember – You are oaks of righteousness planted to reveal God’s glory Isaiah 60:21.

Through your life God wants to do amazing things to reveal HIS glory and “no” is a part of our journey. I think about Lazarus, and how Jesus showed up when Lazarus was dead, to the point that the body was rotting. But Jesus still did the miracle and revived Lazarus, showing us the amazing power of God that He can revive things that are past dead (John 11:38 – 44). To the first point, we do not have the vantage point God has. God’s timing is perfect.

It is our job to:

• Trust God
• Have faith 
• Be in constant communication with God through prayer.

In the Lord’s prayer we say, thy will be done. God’s will can take us to uncomfortable places. To anyone who is struggling with a “no” from God or maybe you are not even sure what God is saying, I would remind you that: 

1. God’s grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9), He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18) and He causes all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His Purpose (Romans 8:28).
2. God speaks all the time, I watched an amazing sermon that helped me understand how God speaks – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W65PdAEKfHk&t=651s
3. This present suffering is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed (Romans 8:18).

Love Dom xx