The perfect father always listens and responds intentionally to our prayers with an answer. He is all-wise, so He knows when to grant our request, and He knows when a different, later time would best fit this request. He also chooses to answer “no” to our pleas with a reason in accordance with His will. His ways are higher than ours.

It’s not always easy for us when He says no, because sometimes we don’t know if it means never, or just not right now. Either way, the “no” brings Him glory. As Job acknowledged, “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Not my will, but yours be done. It’s not something we can say, unless we have a born-again heart, and He’s working in us to desire His glory above all else.   

When God says no, it’s not because He’s punishing us. Or that we didn’t pray hard enough – if you get sick, it’s not because you forgot to pray to be healthy. God is surrounding us with grace, even when we don’t pray like we should. 

The Apostle Paul prayed often. His letters to the churches are full of references to prayers and examples of prayers to pray for others. He wrote, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). He prayed for the salvation and maturity of others. He also asked others to pray for him. But even Paul, though he was an earnest pray-er, met with “nos.” He asked three times for the thorn in his flesh to be taken away. We don’t know when or if God answered with a yes, but we do know God said, 

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). And so Paul concluded, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Christ’s power rests in the wrestling of repetitive prayers. His grace is made perfect in the weakness of our weary waiting.

I love how Shadrack, Meshack, and Abed-nego prayed to God, knowing that EVEN IF he didn’t choose to save their lives, He was still the king of kings. His power would be on display no matter the outcome of their circumstance.

When Shadrack, Meshack and Abed-nego replied to the king’s outrage that they wouldn’t bow down to him, they said, “O Nebuchadnezzar… If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-17). 

We ask for things. God sometimes answers, “no” but it is an answer still wrought in kindness and purpose. As we acknowledge Him even in the undesirable answers to our prayers, we can thank Him, that in His all-knowingness, He makes our paths straight. God doesn’t work according to our efficiency standards. He is getting glory through withholding things we might think would advance his kingdom or just make us a lot happier. But He is truly working a larger redemption story and each detail matters.  Can we trust Him?

“Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are DIVINE LOVE would have put you there.”

Charles Spurgeon

Divine Love sees you. Divine Love spared not even death on the cross, so we could be co-heirs with Christ. He knows what we need and knows all things. Our heart may yearn for the gift God isn’t giving. His heart is, “My Child, I have something better for you right now.” 

He did not spare His own Son. He will freely give us what is good. No good thing does He withhold from them that walk uprightly.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.”

Psalm 84:11

Somehow He is magnifying His sufficiency in our uncompleted requests. When He is silent, He is not still. Our cups overflow with the muchness of Him.

“I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?”

C. S. Lewis

Could He be showing us the greatness of Himself? He never promised to work things like we want, to shower us with prosperity and earthly blessings galore.

But in uncertainties, He promises to BE certain. He always provides—

His Presence. 

His Word.

Eevery spiritual blessings in the heavenly places.

There’s nothing we lack. So pray earnestly for His perfect answer for us, for His perfect will.

“Be joyful in hope,

patient in affliction,

faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

Keep praying! Only good will come from prayers. Expect His clear and good answer for you right now in your season. His “no” is a grace outpoured on us. Can we believe it?

We don’t want to miss out on this invitation to pray…. asking our Father for something big and impossible, or something small and seemingly insignificant. Then enter into His courts with thanksgiving for how He chooses to answer.