Those times when God says “No” and you feel desperate for your prayers to be answered as a “Yes” can be downright debilitating. Crying out to God, you may find yourself praying:
- for a “Yes” with a backbone of faith that our God is BIG,
- praying that God will hear the pleas,
- He will receive your prayers as from a righteous person (James 5:16),
- He will deliver you because only He can,
- praying for His glory to be revealed through the “Yes” … or a “No” or “Not right now”,
- that those who oppose you will not be able to claim victory and laugh at your misfortune (Psalms),
- that even if it’s not a “Yes” that it will not change your heart for the Lord because He is sovereign,
- for healing,
- for a reprieve from mental/physical exhaustion so you can heal,
- etc.
There is nothing inherently wrong about these prayers. The Bible teaches us to turn to God in prayer for everything, in every season.
Sometimes God will just say “No”. I recently had a season of continual prayers for God to give a specific answer and He did not say “Yes”. I prayed a lot of the prayers listed above multiple times over pleading with God to hear and answer my prayers. He gave me a “No”. It shocked me at first because I really thought He would grant my request.
When there is a void felt in your heart from this type of disappointment or discouragement, it is an opportune time to reevaluate your motives. Job teaches us how to respond when trials come. Does God answer his questions borne out of frustration and confusion? No, He points Job toward His sovereignty and greatness.
We need to emulate Job by fully accepting God’s sovereignty. He is a BIG God and in full control. The winds and the waves literally obey Him! Ensure your mindset is set on God for who He is and not what He can do for you, valid as your request may be. Stop to think that the trials we go through are for our (spiritual) wellness. This relieves a lot of pressure to move forward in our faith, trusting God with our lives.
Remember, Jesus lived on earth, walked through a life here just like us; He has compassion for us.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:15-16
Our high priest, our intercessor, even pleaded with God for a different outcome; He did not receive it and carried on with the plan for His life. He knew ridicule, torture, and crucifixion were in His near future. He chose to obey, it was the learned outcome from suffering.
[H]e offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although He was a son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him….
Hebrews 5:7b-9, emphasis added
All through the Bible we see that suffering and trials will come our way, that perseverance is our goal. Perseverance is what solidifies our heart to full obedience. It is the glue that connects our hearts and our will together for Him.
So also, when you pray and plead with God for a specific answer, request also for perseverance and humility that you might learn obedience. He still may say “No” but take it as an opportunity to persevere, to obey regardless of the outcome.
Click here for a prayer to start your day off right.
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So many times I have had to speak truth to myself in the midst of a fervent season of prayer.
“Do you really want this if it’s not God’s best for you?”
Well, of course not. The challenge comes in discerning how God’s best for me could be so radically different from what I envision–with my limited perspective.
“How unsearchable are his judgments…”
Praise him!
Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane has inspired me in so any ways. It’s encouraging to know that even He prayed for a different outcome but yielded Himself to God’s will.
“Perseverance is what solidifies our heart to full obedience.” Yes, this is so true. If we gave up, our heart would never grow in trust or faith. It is our constant praying and obedience that makes us trust in His sovereignty and Lordship. Thank you so much for sharing this.