SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1229

“The Gift of NO”

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. – 1 John 5:14-15

We love to read Scripture verses with such encouraging promises. Here are two more like it.

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. – Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24

There is a danger in building our theology as well as our relationship with Father God by picking and choosing Scriptures out of context that appeal to us. The entire Word of God is balanced and true and we must study the ‘whole counsel’ of God.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness; for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. – 2 Timothy 3:16; Acts 20:27

I am reminded of a song from the early 1970’s by Janis Joplin where she asks God to buy her a Mercedes Benz because all her friends had Porsches.

“Oh Lord, won’t you buy me A Mercedes Benz? My friends all drive Porsches I must make amends.” – Janis Joplin

When we build our relationship with Jesus and our theology on a ‘Name it – Claim it’ basis we are way off base. When God says, ‘No’, and He will say ‘No’, our faith is shaken, and we become despondent and perhaps even angry with God.

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. – James 4:3

Sometimes, God says ‘No’ to protect us from harm and to work all things for our good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Other times, God says ‘No’ to our plans in order to accomplish His plan for our lives and to benefit others through us as when He prevented Paul from going to Bythynia and directed him instead to

Macedonia.

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them… 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. – Acts 16:6-9

Like Paul, we make our plans for what we want to do, where to go, and what to buy. But like Paul, we must have a relationship with the Lord such that we can hear from Him and obey His leading. He may say, ‘No’ to our plans and direct our path differently.

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. – Proverbs 16:9

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

Sometimes, we plead with God in prayer for good things such as physical healing for ourselves or for others and sometimes, in His perfect love and sovereign plan, He says ‘No’.

David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground…On the seventh day the child died…- 2 Samuel 12:16-18

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

The Truth of the matter is that God is sovereign, and He loves you.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him; But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Colossians 1:16; Romans 5:8

Trust God for who He is, not what you want Him to do for you. Note that David and Paul did not waver in their obedience, faith, and trust in God despite His saying, ‘No’ to their plans or prayer requests.

Thank God for what He does not give you. Trust and worship Him in His gifts of ‘No’ as well as His gifts of ‘Yes’.