When God Says No

 

all photo credits Storm Knight

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life" - Proverbs 13:12

We don't like to think of God saying no. It seems more comforting to say He didn't answer but such a statement makes Him out to be a liar and He is not. You and I have never prayed a prayer that God has not heard and answered. Our problem is we don't like the answer. More often than not God answers us in a way that's very different than what our imaginations can conjure up and depending on how it plays out to us we think of that as a good thing or a not so good thing. 

Ever since I was a child I'd been in love with the news. I knew that's what I wanted to do when I grew up. I was so entrenched with it, that for punishment my mom would make me watch cartoons or go outside and play with other children. I ordered my entire life toward becoming a Producer in Television and Radio but, it never really took off like I thought it would. Fast forward a few years and God has opened doors that I forgot about. I found myself working in top ten markets, covering a historical Presidential Inauguration, and all the functions that came with it, and even hosting a morning show for a small radio station.

Later as I finished up my degree I did my internship at the local CBS station here in the city where I live, and I worked alongside giants in the industry, but it still didn't stick like I thought it would. A few summers later God would reveal to me that the profession I pursued so relentlessly and at all cost was an idol. And He was right. Looking back on my actions I was ambitious and self-centered and this was fifteen years in to my walk with Christ. My motivation was off. Or as James puts it, I was asking for something so that I could fulfill my own desires, namely pride (James 4:1-3). 

It was not easy walking away from something I fought so hard for and I was tempted to be angry at God but by His grace I had learned that's neither helpful nor fruitful. I took solace in His sovereignty that He knows far more than I ever will. He sees everything at once and because He is my Good Shepherd He would lead me in right paths for His glory and my good. 

But what if the desire is good and the motive, as far as we can see is good and God still says no. I have a stronger desire to preach Christ among the nations, particularly in Asia or where His Name is not yet known. This consumes me in ways that News never did. I remember during my studies at a Bible College in Ohio, expressing this desire even though at the time I had no idea what it was called, much less how to do it. Thus began a remarkable journey of truly learning how to study God's word and lead others to see Christ in the Scriptures. I began preparing and training, as best I could with all God had given me, to go and sometimes I ask myself, what if He says no?

Contrary to popular teaching and our own thinking He does say no to those things we desire to do for Him when there is no improper motive that we can see. I can think of no greater example, outside of Christ's pleading in the garden, than Paul's call to Macedonia:

The Macedonian Call

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them - Acts 16:6-10

God didn't want Paul and his crew to go to Asia or to Bithynia. God wanted them in Macedonia! Paul, being obedient to the vision that God had given him, changed course and set sail for Macedonia. There's no reason given for God saying no to them going into Asia, only His sovereign hand moving in the life of Paul and those who were with him. As far as we can tell Macedonia was not on Paul's list of places to visit, but what we do see is a surrender to sovereignty. We see this in Moses as well. Moses was denied entry into the land of promise because of his misrepresentation of God at the waters of Meribah (Numbers 20 & Deuteronomy 35:51-52). No doubt with a broken heart Moses intercedes for God to go with Israel and asks for God to appoint a man to lead them (Numbers 27:12-23). 

Sometimes our desires are anchored within themselves and sometimes they are anchored in God's good

design. The key for us is to be anchored in God's sovereignty. God has a wonderful way of redeeming and reorienting our desires and laying the path for the desires that He has given to be fulfilled according to His will. 

I have had the opportunity to share God's word among people in different parts of the world on numerous occasions and I'm thankful for them all. I also have the joy and honor of serving on the Production and Discipleship Teams at my church! The Lord is faithful! 

When we are anchored in Him and we trust Him even through tears and things we do not understand, we find Him to be compassionate and kind. As time moves us forward we find that God's NO was a blessing. May the Lord teach us to look for grace in the days and places He has us. May we not trust in our own imaginations. May He lead us. May we trust Him, especially when He says NO.

In Christ, 

Storm Knight