When God Says, "No!"

We’ve been talking about prayer.
When we come to God recognizing our needs, He gives. See Are You Needy? and How Great Is Your God?
When He gives, He desires our praise and thanksgiving.

But what happens when God says “No”?

Often we hear of people who experience a tragedy.
They beg God to save their loved one, heal their ailment, or do this act—but He doesn’t.
When He doesn’t, because of course He can, they turn from God and live their life the way they want.
How should we respond?

Let’s see how David responded.
He wanted to build a temple for God. (I Chronicles 17)
Isn’t that a good thing?
God said, “No, not you.”
Some things, some good things, are not for you to do.

My ob/gyn doctor told us, “Many people tell me, 'Think what you could do for the cause of pro-life!' 
But he would respond, “It’s not my fight.” 
What did he do? 
He saved lives—woman and babies on the operation table—taking cases no one else would attempt.
He did more for the cause of pro-life there than he ever could fighting with legislature. That wasn't his fight.

All good things are not for you to do, to have, to be.
God tells us “no” to good things to give us what is best.

Often when God answers, He doesn’t tell us why.
But He told David. (I Chronicles 22:8).

David prepared the workers and the supplies for the temple and exhorted Solomon about how it should be done (I Chronicles 22:7-19).
He wanted to make sure God’s Name was glorified.
Yet, he was not there to see the finished magnificent building.

Nor was Moses when he wanted to go into the Promised Land with the people.
He had led the Israelites for over 40 long complaining years, yet God would not allow him to enter.
For a man, that would be like doing all the work and watching someone else get the glory.

Of course, his cause was sin. Moses stroke the rock when God told him to speak to the rock, when the people needed water.
From our perspective we would say, “but it was only a little thing.”
But not to God.
God’s “no’s” are hard to take.
Even for godly men who walk with God.

There are not many prayers recorded in the Bible from women.
But those that are recorded are heart-wrenching pleas for God to bless.
Know what they are requesting?
Children.

Sarah, Abraham’s wife.
Samson’s mother.
Hannah, Samuel’s mother.
Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mom.

All felt that pain of a barren womb.
It seemed like God told them “no.”
But they keep asking—begging.

Sarah’s prayers aren’t recorded, but she tries everything she knows possible to give an heir to Abraham. 
Even suggesting her servant Hagar.
When God is silent, it is hard to wait.

It is then when we try to help God.
Our help always brings heartache.
As Sarah’s help brought problems for the rest of time.
(God doesn’t need our help. He wants our trust.)
In that waiting, Sarah learned God’s timing was not hers.

In waiting, Samson’s mother learned how to cope with disdain from family—that came in handy when her family didn’t accept Samson marrying the enemy, a Philistine. 
Later his own people turned him over to the Philistines rather than defend him.
Wonder how that made his mom feel?
God prepared her, not to withstand the pain, but to take it to the One Who could.
Not easy, but she knew where God was.

In waiting for her son, Hannah, Samuel’s mother, learned reliance on God, which she needed when she left her five-year-old son at the temple with Eli, the priest, even though Eli’s own sons were not disciplined or obeying God.

In waiting, Elizabeth learned God is to be praised with or without a child.

These women were never told why they had to wait.
Nor knew if God would ever give them a son (except Sarah).
They had to trust God.

But in their trust, they were able to share with their child what others could not—that deep faith in God that only comes when pain makes the roots grow deep.

Isaac, Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist—all men greatly used by God to do His work—Came from moms who had suffered greatly.

These women knew the pain of barrenness.
They learned to wait and trust in God alone.
God told them “no”—for a long time.
But then blessed them with a son who would make a difference.

What if God says “no” forever?
Remember Anna in the temple at the time of Christ’s birth?
Her husband died early (after being married only seven years).
She never remarried.
She never had children.
She spent her life in the temple.
God said “no”.
Why?
She didn’t know. She never found out.

Did she become bitter, never wanting to speak to God again, because He didn’t give her what she most wanted?
No.
She spent her life praising God anyway.
That’s a godly woman!

She found what most people miss when they pray and don’t get their answer from God.
She found God’s answer was enough to make her cling to God—not His answer.

By clinging to God, she recognized the Messiah when He came.
And gave thanks. (Luke 2:36-38).

Sometimes, like David, that “no” is for us to prepare for others.
David took that answer and started getting everything, even the workers, ready for Solomon to build a glorious temple for God’s Name.

Sometimes that “no” is for us to wait with God for when He wants to give.
Like for John the Baptist's or Samuel's or Samson's birth.

Sometimes that “no” is for us to see God better, not be bitter, like Anna.

When God answers “no,” He does what is best, trust Him. 

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Faith
Find more articles about faith here:
Reminders of What's Important
God's Unmeasurable Love
A Quarter of a Century Spent for Our Country
What Were You Thinking?
Who Are You Watching?
Boundaries for a Better Life
God's Boundaries
Memories of a Hero Mom
The Ripple Effect
How Do We Think Like Jesus
Litany of a Waiting Woman
Ever Cook a Frog?
New Year's Reminders
They Galled Her Gammy
When God Speaks
A Russian Christmas Story
Be Thankful
Be Grateful
Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
  (reprint)
Laughter—Why Laugh?
Mom
Are You Disturbed?
Unity of the Brothers
Encouragements To Declutter
Do You Have Too Much Stuff?
Too Much Stress
Getting Past the Noise—The Value of Silence
Are You Scatterbrained?
How Good Are You?
Looking for Something Good To Read?
A Cup of Cold Water
I Will Trust When I Cannot See
Encouragement—What Is It?
Being in God's Presence
"Einstein and the Professor"
When God Is Silent
Do You Crave Beauty?
Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
God is in charge of the future
November Dare Joy Challenge
Ungratefulness
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
Life's Little Pleasures
Daniel—Greatly Loved by God
Take Every Thought
Jars of Clay
What Do Your Words Reveal about Your Heart?
How Do You Get Strong Faith?
Too Busy for God's Word?
How Do You Think Like Jesus?
Reflections from a Mom
Pain—What's It Good For?
Why Marry?
Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
Are You Beat Up?
What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
Do You Expect Answers to Your Prayers?
Do You Eat Your Stress?
Need Focus?
Going through Trouble?
Immanuel—God with Us
Looking for a Relationship?
When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
Those Aha Moments
Is Your Soul Happy?
Are You Ignored?
Looking for the God Moment
Do You Know Truth from Almost Truth?
I Believe in Jesus—What Now?
Do You Have Your "Son"-Glasses On?
Less Is More
Singing His Praise
Are You Trying To Do It All?
What Do You Do with All These Prayer Requests?
Have a Problem?
Do You Know How to Pray?
Looking for God in Every Moment
Are You Receptive to God's Blessings?
Tell the Senate: Mothers Aren't Birthing People
Is Your Life Complicated?
How Do We Fight Evil?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Giving Up or Taking Away
the Bible is simple
Are You a Dripping Faucet?
What's Your Testimony?
The Final Move
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
What Have You Learned from Your Hardship?
Who Are You Trying to Change?
What's Your Five-Year Plan?
The Danger of "Aloneness"
My Colors
Are You a Whiner?
Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
Slow Down and Smell the Dead Leaves
Are You Hospitable?
Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
Are You Disturbed?
Are You Depressed?
I Did It My Way
Finding the Simple Life with Meaning
The Simple Life
Do You Have the Right Words?
Did Your Dream Die?
On the Other Side of the Fence
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
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Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
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See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 

under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Special Days
Remember: The Symbols of 
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Aug 12, 2017 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
July 4th, Freedom
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Valentine's Day: A Day of Love?
Memorial Day-A Day To Remember
Veterans' Day-To Honor Our Men
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First Thanksgiving Day
    Proclamation
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs, part 2