When God says "No"...

We have all had instances when we asked God for something, for help with a situation, for guidance, or for provision, and He has come through for us in a big way. Or, maybe, it has been in a small or subtle way, but we knew that our prayers had been answered. These instances help to bolster our faith, and they let us know that God hears our prayers, and that He loves us. But, what happens when God says "No"?

I'd like to begin by stressing the fact that just because God may deny a request does not indicate that He no longer cares for us, or that He no longer has our best interest at heart. It does not mean that He is not listening to us anymore, that He is mad at us, or that we no longer matter to Him. In fact, it may mean just the opposite. Let's look at a few instances in the bible where God's answer was "no", and the repercussions of these incidents...

The first instance we'll look at is the rejection of Moses' plea to enter into the Promised Land, in Deuteronomy 3:25-26..."I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan." Because of Moses' disobedience in smiting the rock at Meribah that provided water for the children of Israel rather than simply speaking to it, as God had commanded, he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land with the children of Israel, but in His mercy God did allow Moses to see the land before he died. So we see that God's "no" in this case was due to disobedience.

The next instance we'll look at focuses on the Apostle Paul, as he prays to God to remove a "thorn in the flesh" from him...In 2 Corinthians, chapter 12, verses 7-9..."And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." We are not told specifically what this "thorn in the flesh" was, but we know from the book of Acts that as Paul was on his way to Damascus he was blinded by a great light from heaven. This information, when coupled with evidence given later on in Galatians, chapter 4, seems to support the notion that it may very well have been poor eyesight which affected Paul greatly. Let's look at Galatians 4:13-15..."Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me." We see from our text in 2 Corinthians that Paul prayed earnestly three separate times for this thorn in the flesh to be removed, but to no avail. However, after the third time, God spoke to Paul, and revealed to him the fact that His grace was sufficient for Paul, and that the strength of God is made perfect in our weakness. Paul seems to understand this, as he acknowledges the fact that, had it not been for this thorn in the flesh, he may very well have been exalted above measure. This weakness was given to Paul as a blessing, in order to help him to maintain his humility. And so, we see that God's "no" in this case was in order to protect Paul from himself, to help him to remain humble.

Another very profound instance of God's answer to prayer being "no" is found as Jesus prays in the garden of Gethsemane. This incident is recorded in all four gospels, but let's look specifically at Luke 22, verses 41-44..."And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Jesus was fully human, and fully God, and in this instance, the human side of Him agonized over what He was about to do, and over the fact that the shedding of His blood was the only way for humanity to have redemption. And although His agony was more than any of us can even begin to fathom, so much so that we are told that His sweat was as drops of blood, still God's answer to His prayer was "no." Jesus deferred Himself to the will of God, and gave Himself on the cross of Calvary for all of us. In this case, the "no" that God gave was in preparation for the fulfillment of prophecy, and for the completion of His plan of salvation.

The thing that we must come to terms with when God says "no" is the fact that we simply do not know what is best for us. We need to accept that God's plans for our life are much bigger than our own. He alone sees the bigger picture. We have a very limited view, and our view is tainted by our own desires. I know from personal experience on at least three separate occasions, in very different situations, that earnest prayers that I prayed were met with a resounding "no". These are difficult things to deal with, especially when we feel that our request is what we truly need, and that it is in conjunction with God's will. These can be very strong tests of our faith, and sometimes it may take many years to come to an understanding as to why our request was denied. In some cases, we simply may never know. But in these instances, we have to come to the conclusion that it is God who knows what is best for us, not we ourselves. We are to lean on His word for the answers when they are hard for us to accept. We are told in Jeremiah 29:11-13..."For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." When we ask something of God, and His answer is "no", we need to simply accept that only He knows the plans that He has for us, and that He loves us with a love that we cannot begin to fathom. He will always have our best interest at heart. When God says "no", let us not think of it as a rejection, but rather as a redirection. Trust in His love, He knows what is best for you.