When God Says "No"

Few of us pray to God hoping He will say "No" to our requests.  But like every good parent, our Heavenly Father knows when to say "No."  Can you imagine what life would have been like as a kid if every time you asked for something your parents said "Yes?"  I doubt such a parent could possibly have any respect from their children.  Because of immaturity and limited vision, kids desire all sorts of things that would ruin them.  A loving parent will do what's best for their kids, even if kids don't want the best for themselves.

Scriptures demonstrates time and time again that God said "No" to many of His faithful followers.  After Moses sinned in Meribah, he begged that God would allow him into the Promised Land.  God sternly told him no and forbade Moses to bring up the subject again (Deut. 3:26).  King David desired to build God a house, but God told him no.  When David's infant son was sick and he prayed and fasted for seven days before God, asking that his son might live, God said no.  The child died according to the word of Nathan the prophet (2 Samuel 12:18).  King Rehoboam desired to re-unite the kingdom under his rule and sought to fight against Jeroboam.  1 Kings 12:24 says, "Thus says the LORD: "You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me." Therefore they obeyed the word of the LORD, and turned back, according to the word of the LORD."  Just because God answers "No" does not mean our prayers are a waste.  God has heard and answered us according to His divine wisdom.

God says "Yes" but He also says "No."  It can be difficult for us to understand why God would ever say no to our requests.  Sometimes we find it impossible to grasp the things God chooses to allow.  The temptation grows to stand in judgment of God, a grave sin.  In those times we must firmly fix our feet upon the everlasting promises of God, recalling His character as revealed through scripture.  God is good.  All He does is right.  He is trustworthy and true.  He does not change.  Isaiah 55:6-9 says, "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. ⁸ "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. ⁹ "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."  Let us not be as foolish children who become angry when their loving parent tells them "No."

Even when God says "No" we can take heart that our prayers have been heard.  Did you know there are prayers that will always be answered with the affirmative?  2 Corinthians 1:18-21 says, "But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. ¹⁹ For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us--by me, Silvanus, and Timothy--was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. ²⁰ For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. ²¹ Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God."  All the promises of God in Him are "Yes!"  He will give salvation to all who repent and believe (John 3:16, Luke 24:45-47).  He will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13).  He will forgive our sins (1 John 1:9).  When we pray according to His will He hears us and we can know we have what we have requested of Him (1 John 5:14-15).

When God says "No," recall to mind all the times He has said "Yes!"  If a parent says "No" a child does not doubt the love of their parent.  Let us refuse to allow our circumstances to cause us to question God's love for us.  Never forget sometimes it is through a "No" genuine love is best shown.