When God Says No.

When God Says No.

The earliest memory I have of my Mom saying no was when I was almost 3, and my mom was pregnant with my brother Jaxon. I remember wanting my mom to hold me, and I was trying to jump on her when she looked down at me in the dining room and said a word I would come to know all too well, “no”.

Hearing the word “no” is not the most pleasant thing. It typically comes with a follow up question/word, “Why”? Why are you saying no to me? Why can’t I get what I want? Why this and why that? I think part of our sinful nature is just not understanding why things don’t always go our way. We as humans are very greedy. We constantly want the newest and shiniest things. We even long to have the things that someone else has that we don’t. We have a hard time being satisfied with what we already have. And when we get told “no”, look out, because I know most of us do or want to throw a hissy fit, just like I did when my mom first told me “no”. Oh, I can see it now… toys getting thrown across the room, face turning beat red, and tears starting to swell up in my eyes. Not a pretty sight.

What we don’t know at that young age, or even now, is that being told no usually does us more good than bad. There is usually a pretty good reason why we get told no, especially if it comes from God. Getting told no from God is probably one of our biggest blessings, and one of the best things we could hear from Him. Yes, it hurts at the time and yes, we may want to kick, scream and cry, but if we take a step back and think about why He is saying no, the beauty is more than you can imagine.

When God says no, he is probably saving us from a treacherous disaster. He’s not only saving us from some bad outcome, but He is also protecting those around us that could get caught in the wild fire. God has a plan for each of our lives and when we ask for something that was never meant for us, He is going to say no. God has our best interest in mind, at all times. He sees and knows our hearts desires, and He knows which desires are pure and which ones are not. Could you imagine the results that would follow if God said yes to our impure desires? So much more hurt and heartbreak would be felt. I mean, imagine if God would have said yes to you about the ex that constantly put you down or cheated on you? What if God said yes to you about giving up on your dreams? What if God said yes to you about this or that? Well, He said no. And He said no for a reason, because He wanted to protect you and because He has a better plan for you.

God has told me “no” more times than I can count. He told me no when I wanted to follow my best friend to the same college she was going to. He told me no over and over again when I wanted to be in a relationship with someone I wasn’t supposed to be with. He even told me no when I thought I knew the place I was going to end up after college. But one thing I’ve realized is that God’s “no” always leads me towards His “yes”. Each no I received was followed by a yes to something else, something better. The yes didn’t always come right away, and wasn’t always clear at first, but it always came.

I am currently in a season where I feel like all God knows how to say to me is no. And let me tell ya, it has been one of the most frustrating seasons I think I have ever gone through. Hearing no over and over again gets exhausting and discouraging, but I am doing my best to keep my head up and focused on “why” He is saying no, because I know there is an even better yes waiting for me in the future. I know God has His reasons, and His reasons are good. I know His plan for me is more than I can even imagine, just have to wait out this “No” season. The “Yes” is coming.

So, for those of you who may be in this “No” season with me, I encourage you to stay focused on Him and His “Why”. Lean on Him when you are discouraged, and look forward to the “Yes” that is to come. Be thankful for this no. Be thankful that God is saving you from a treacherous disaster and that He has something magnificent planned for you! Be thankful that He knows our hearts and our desires, and that He is a good Father. He loves us and cares for us more than we could ever understand, and that is something to be thankful for. Be thankful for this “No”.

So I pray:

Lord, I pray that we would be thankful when you say no to us. I pray that we may find peace in knowing that you have a beautiful plan for each and every one of us. I pray that we may not get discouraged, but look forward to the future and the yes that is to come. I pray that we would see your why with every no, and that you may give us understanding in your timing. I pray that we may not get angry with you, but we praise you because we know you are a good Father. Lord, I thank you for your love and your protection. And I pray that all your yeses and no’s bring Glory to you and your kingdom!

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Thessalonians 5:18 - “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”