WHY DOES GOD SAY “NO” WHEN PEOPLE PRAY?

Sometimes God Says “No”

            Some people have given up on prayer.  They say, “I have been praying and praying, but the Lord just won’t answer my prayers.”  If this is how you feel then perhaps the Lord has given you an answer you do not realize you have received.  Sometimes the Lord says “Wait” or “No”.

It’s usually when we feel that like we are going through the valley of the shadow of death or we are walking the long road of despair, when the Lord has told us to “wait”.  Many people mistake “No” for “Wait” because it seems like no answer at all.  Here’s a  familiar story by Margaret Rose Powers that illustrates this point:

“One night I had a dream.  I was walking along the beach with the Lord, and across the skies flashed scenes from my life.  In each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand.  One was mine, and one was the Lord’s.  When the last scene of my life appeared before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand, and to my surprise, I noticed that many times along the path of my life there was only one set of footprints.  And I noticed that it was at the lowest and saddest times in my life.  I asked the Lord about it, “Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You would walk with me all the way.  But I noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints.  I do not understand why You left my side when I needed You the most.”  The Lord said, “My precious child, I never left you during your time of trial.  Where you see only one set of footprints, I was carrying you.”

When the Lord makes us wait it is always for our benefit.  The Lord told Paul the Apostle, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”  So give God the praise and thank the Lord because one day it will all soon be behind you. “Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning”– that’s a promise from the Word of God to you!

“But what if the Lord says “No” you may ask.  My answer is the same as it always has been.  Trust the Lord.  He never makes a mistake.  You can even thank him for saying “No.”

Thank You for Saying No

Lord, day after day I’ve thanked You,

For saying yes.

But when have I genuinely thanked You,

For saying no?

Yet I shudder to think, Of the possible smears

The cumulative blots on my life, Had You not been sufficiently wise.

To say an unalterable no.

So thank You for saying no

When my want list for things, Far exceeded my longing for You.

When I asked for a stone, Foolishly certain I asked for bread

Thank You for saying no

To my petulant “Just this time, Lord?”

Thank You for saying no

To senseless excuses, Selfish motives, Dangerous diversions.

Thank You saying no

When the temptation that enticed me, Would have bound me beyond escape.

Thank You for saying no

When I asked You to leave me alone.

Above all… Thank You for saying no

When in anguish I asked, “If I give You all else, but May I keep this?

Lord, my awe increases, When I see the wisdom

Of Your  divine no.

            -Ruth Harms Calkin, Tell Me Again Lord, I Forget

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”  1^st Thessalonians 5:18