Growing In Faith
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Posted: March 18, 2023
Author: Kerry Lytle 1 John 5:14, New Living Translation "And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him." |
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"And the same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19, NLT)
We love the truth that God answers prayer (1 John 5:14–15). But what we love most is when He agrees with our requests and says “yes.” But sometimes God’s answer is “no” or “not yet.” As a good Father, God will not grant us that which is not in our long-term best interest, even when we plead. God’s “yes” answers build our faith and confidence in prayer. But how are we to respond when He says “no”?
Accepting God’s “no” can be a sticky situation. There are verses that seem to indicate that whatever we ask for in faith we receive (e.g., Mark 11:24; Matthew 21:22). If we isolate those verses and build a theology around them, it can be faith-shattering when things do not happen as we anticipated.
He is God, and He can see things we can’t see. King David pleaded with the Lord for the life of his and Bathsheba’s infant son. David fasted and prayed for days, but, on the seventh day, the child died (2 Samuel 12:16, 18). God said “no.” David responded in a way that is a model for us all. He accepted that what God had done was right and good, “and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped”. He had hoped for a different outcome. But God is God, and He has the right to make life-and-death decisions. In his grief, David did not become bitter toward the Lord or turn away. David’s response to God’s “no” was deeper worship and surrender, even in his heartache. If we respond differently, we need to learn from David when we get a "no" from God.
We can learn from biblical examples that God never stops being God. He is sovereign: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ . . . What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do” (Isaiah 46:9–11).
God will often say “no” to things we yearn to see happen. Those with immature faith sometimes use this as an excuse to abandon Him altogether: “God didn’t heal my baby.” “God didn’t save my marriage.” “God didn’t give me that job I needed.” If our view is that God is obligated to grant our requests like a genie grants wishes, then we will be disappointed when God does not “perform” for us. We choose whether to allow a “no” from God to shatter our faith or build it up; a “no” from God can teach us to endure—even when we don’t understand.
Sometimes God answers our prayer with a definite “No,” and when that’s the case, we shouldn’t keep begging Him or demanding He give us a “Yes.” Remember: God loves us and knows far better than we do what’s best for us. I can recall times in my own life when God said “No” to something I prayed for, and to be honest, I sometimes found this hard to accept. Later, though, I realized God’s way was far better than mine.
How can you know if God has said “No” to your prayer? Begin by asking yourself why you’ve prayed this prayer. Are you honestly seeking God’s will in this situation? Or are you only concerned about yourself and what will please you? God hasn’t promised to answer every prayer we make; He’s only promised to answer those that are in line with His will. God promises to give good things to His children when they ask, but it doesn’t say He gives them precisely what they ask for.
What should we learn from God’s no to our prayers? Here’s the least I think we can learn. Even when God says no to the specific intention of our prayer, it does not mean there’s no blessing in response to the prayer. In fact, I think that when we pray with a right heart, we never, never pray in vain! So, remember: God sees the big picture, we only see in part, and God has amazing plans for our lives! (Jeremiah 29:11)
We love the truth that God answers prayer (1 John 5:14–15). But what we love most is when He agrees with our requests and says “yes.” But sometimes God’s answer is “no” or “not yet.” As a good Father, God will not grant us that which is not in our long-term best interest, even when we plead. God’s “yes” answers build our faith and confidence in prayer. But how are we to respond when He says “no”?
Accepting God’s “no” can be a sticky situation. There are verses that seem to indicate that whatever we ask for in faith we receive (e.g., Mark 11:24; Matthew 21:22). If we isolate those verses and build a theology around them, it can be faith-shattering when things do not happen as we anticipated.
He is God, and He can see things we can’t see. King David pleaded with the Lord for the life of his and Bathsheba’s infant son. David fasted and prayed for days, but, on the seventh day, the child died (2 Samuel 12:16, 18). God said “no.” David responded in a way that is a model for us all. He accepted that what God had done was right and good, “and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped”. He had hoped for a different outcome. But God is God, and He has the right to make life-and-death decisions. In his grief, David did not become bitter toward the Lord or turn away. David’s response to God’s “no” was deeper worship and surrender, even in his heartache. If we respond differently, we need to learn from David when we get a "no" from God.
We can learn from biblical examples that God never stops being God. He is sovereign: “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ . . . What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do” (Isaiah 46:9–11).
God will often say “no” to things we yearn to see happen. Those with immature faith sometimes use this as an excuse to abandon Him altogether: “God didn’t heal my baby.” “God didn’t save my marriage.” “God didn’t give me that job I needed.” If our view is that God is obligated to grant our requests like a genie grants wishes, then we will be disappointed when God does not “perform” for us. We choose whether to allow a “no” from God to shatter our faith or build it up; a “no” from God can teach us to endure—even when we don’t understand.
Sometimes God answers our prayer with a definite “No,” and when that’s the case, we shouldn’t keep begging Him or demanding He give us a “Yes.” Remember: God loves us and knows far better than we do what’s best for us. I can recall times in my own life when God said “No” to something I prayed for, and to be honest, I sometimes found this hard to accept. Later, though, I realized God’s way was far better than mine.
How can you know if God has said “No” to your prayer? Begin by asking yourself why you’ve prayed this prayer. Are you honestly seeking God’s will in this situation? Or are you only concerned about yourself and what will please you? God hasn’t promised to answer every prayer we make; He’s only promised to answer those that are in line with His will. God promises to give good things to His children when they ask, but it doesn’t say He gives them precisely what they ask for.
What should we learn from God’s no to our prayers? Here’s the least I think we can learn. Even when God says no to the specific intention of our prayer, it does not mean there’s no blessing in response to the prayer. In fact, I think that when we pray with a right heart, we never, never pray in vain! So, remember: God sees the big picture, we only see in part, and God has amazing plans for our lives! (Jeremiah 29:11)
