When God Answers "No"

Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "We've A Story To Tell To The Nations"1 (Lyrics)

The sad news came in mid-summer 2020. Because of the global pandemic, schools in Oregon, USA, will be using online education in the fall, with in-person education being postponed until at least November. This news had a dramatic effect on my family. Though the pandemic has not caused me major disruption (and I have actually appreciated the unexpected, imposed gift of time), my teenaged grandchildren will be experiencing even greater losses of school, sports, activities, and friendships this fall. (This is not to overlook or minimize far greater suffering that the virus is causing around the world, but it is how it has touched my family.)

I regularly and fervently pray for my grandchildren. I often pray for God's best for their health, wellbeing, and growth in character. So why aren't my prayers for what I consider to be for their good being answered? James encourages us to ask God for good things:

James 4:2b – Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. (NLT)

And Matthew verifies that a prayer of faith is effective:

Matthew 21:22 – Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive. (NRSV)

Using his own real-life example, which seems to contradict these verses, Paul said that that he prayed repeatedly for relief from a personal issue (probably a physical ailment), only to receive a "no" answer. But he clarified God's reason for answering "no". This can help us, too.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 – To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (NIV)

God's answer was "no". God gave Paul his infirmity to keep him from becoming conceited, and it came as a test from Satan. God then chose not to remove Paul's thorn, but rather to use Paul's weakness to display His power.

Dr. Garry Friesen, a Bible professor at a college in Rwanda, once said, "When God answers a prayer 'yes', it shows His power. When He answers 'no', it shows His wisdom." Accepting God's "no" when it isn't what we'd choose is a way of acknowledging that He knows far better than we do what is best for us.

How much better it is for us to trust God to answer our prayers as He knows best, than to become bitter and resentful when He answers "no".

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, give us grace to accept Your "no" answers as readily as we thank You for Your "yes" answers to prayer. May we be as thankful for Your wisdom as we are for Your power. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook

About the author:

Gail Lundquist <gail10833@gmail.com>
Beaverton, Oregon, USA

Send your feedback to the author

1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Amen Gail.


    Great message, Gail.


    Thank you for your well put wording.


    Thank you, Gail, for this timely devotional. Blessings.


    O Gail! Your understanding, hope and strength are invaluable to me today!


    Amen to your prayer, especially when one is living and caring for a husband inflicted with dementia.


    Thank you for your devotional today. I am praying for the city of Portland. God have mercy.
    (Canada)


    Thanks, Gail. We pray for you and all the residents of “tormented” cities. Hopefully, you are far removed from the “troubles,” as they said in Ireland.


    Amen Gail. Thanks for sharing.
    For our light affliction which is for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory.
    Blessings.


    Gail,
    I too, am a concerned grandparent and can relate to your young ones and your prayers. I praise his holy name that we are beneficiaries of his power and wisdom. Thank you for lifting it up for all to see.


    Thank you, Gail.
    I like your devotion very much.
    I hope everyone who reads it finds it enriching in understanding what you are saying.
    Thanks a lot, and keep it going,
    (Quebec)


    Greetings Gail,
    Good one! Yes, we need be thankful not only for the Lord’s power, but I think even more so for His wisdom. The plans that He has for us are the right ones, even though at the moment we may wonder why He hasn’t given us what we wanted.
    Blessings for these writings you do.
    (B.C.)


    Good morning Gail,
    Greetings to you and your family from Canada!
    I sincerely hope that you are doing well.
    I thank you very much for this powerful devotion today. it is indeed very much appreciated.
    A warm feeling of remembering how amazing our Lord is.
    Thanks again. Stay safe and keep well.
    May the good Lord continue to bless you richly.


    Thank you.
    Very insightful.


    Amen Gail. Thanks for sharing.
    For our light affliction which is for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of Glory.
    Blessings.

Previous Post
«
Next Post
»
 



PresbyCan is a community of faithful, Holy Spirit-filled, Christ-centred, God-honouring Christians.