For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.” — Isaiah 55:8–9 (NIV)
When God says “No”
Leaving and cleaving is one of God’s commands to married couples. After months of ‘house tripping’, we thought we had finally found one we could call home. All items in our checklist were ticked off except for one question: Is this the property that God wants for us? We prayed that He’d give us clear instructions and confirmation on whether we would push through with it or not. Then God answered, “No”.
Of course, we felt disappointed; it was hard for us to accept God’s response. We couldn’t understand it at the time But afterward, we eventually saw that God’s “no” was His way of redirecting us toward His sovereign will.
We were blessed with people who constantly prayed for us. Through them, we were reminded to wait and slow down, to trust God with all our hearts, and to leave no room for doubt. We took comfort in knowing that God’s love for us never changes, even when His answer to our prayer was not what we had hoped for.
God’s Sovereignty
God said “No” to Moses when he was not permitted to enter the promised land due to an act of disobedience (Numbers 20:12). Apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh and prayed three times for God to remove it. But God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).
These instances in the Bible show that God wants to teach us obedience, patience, and trust. He always has something better in store for us. His wisdom surpasses our understanding. He is the ultimate authority and His will and purpose are above our own.
Grow in Faith and Character
We can view God’s “No” as a faith-building opportunity. The way to have a strong character is to have our faith tested. Faith is trusting God’s plan and purpose even when we don’t know the reasons behind it and submitting to God’s will even if God says ‘No’.
So if you’re in a season of waiting, hold on to Him. We have the assurance that God will give us comfort through His love, faithfulness, and the hope that He works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28), and that He will give us protection through His guidance. Remember that God always has the best in mind for us — often preparing something far greater than we could ever imagine or far better than what we may be praying for today.
Reflect
- Do you have difficulty accepting God’s answers to your prayer requests?
- If God’s answer is ‘No’ to a prayer you have been lifting up to Him for some time now, will you walk away and do whatever you want? Or will you submit yourself to His will?
- How has God’s “No” affected your faith?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We humbly come before you with an open heart, seeking Your divine guidance and wisdom. We pray that You help us align our plan with Your will, trusting that Your way is higher than ours. May You give us the wisdom and humility to surrender everything to You according to Your perfect will.
May Your plan unfold in our lives to bring glory to Your name.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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Glen and Lea Jaca