When God Says No

The power of prayer is talked about so profusely within our community. Pray hard so God knows you really want it, because repeated prayers are always going to be blessed, right? Keep asking God for this and that because He will provide it, right? This is where the misconception of the Lord’s role starts. When we pray and expect to always get what we asked for, it paints a false image of God. Often times God is mistaken for a genie rather than the Father. God is not going to carelessly grant everyone’s wishes. Instead, He will follow through on His perfect timing. Stop seeing God as a slot machine, only playing Him to get the jackpot. See God as the Father that He is and stop praying to Him just to get a “Yes”.

God always hears and answers our prayers. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us “that if we ask anything according to his will, he will hear us.” So why does it feel like sometimes He doesn’t? Why does it feel like we beg and beg for something, and it just doesn’t come? This doesn’t mean the Lord doesn’t love you and therefore isn’t answering your prayers, it means quite the opposite. It means He has said “no”. This “no” could either be a “no, this isn’t for you” or “no, not right now.” With this answer, the Lord is protecting us from something that may end up being harmful. If you have been praying for that job you applied to to get back to you, and they don’t, He heard you. But maybe He has an even better job waiting for you. Our Father will always work in ways that are best for us. So when it feels like you aren’t being heard, know you are. But that door may not be the right one for you.

“No”. This two-letter word can bring so much distress to our lives, but only if we let it. When God says no, rather than being angry and rebelling against Him, say thank you. Thank God for His “no”. You have no idea what a “yes” could have led to or what a “no” is preparing you for. If you have ever worked with younger children, you know the chaos that emerges when you tell them no. You said no to them running off into a busy street? How rude of you. You said no to them touching aggressive raccoon in the yard? You’re so evil! In the children’s defense, they don’t realize what they are being saved from, but that is why they grow to respect your “no”. As God’s children, we should be respecting the Lord’s authority and knowledge. Say “Yes” to His “No”.