WHEN HIS ANSWER IS 'NO'

God listens to the prayers of His children ... 

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14

When we study the Word of God, several passages seem to indicate that whatever we ask for in faith we will receive ... 

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:22

And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14

The problem is ... if you isolate those verses and build a theology around them, it is disheartening when your prayers appear to go unanswered. Today's charismatic churches proclaim a 'name it, claim it' doctrine that places the power of God under man's authority. Feelings of condemnation and alienation can be crippling when a religious system says that a believer just doesn't have enough faith. 

The truth is that when we come before the Lord with our petitions, His answer is not always 'yes' ... sometimes it is 'no' or 'not yet'. His silence can be deafening if we read too much into its meaning. Be assured that we have a loving Father who will not grant us that which is not in our best interest, even when we lay broken before Him. 

For instance, Paul suffered from what he called a 'thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me'. (2 Corinthians 12:7). 

He pleaded with the Lord on three separate occasions to take it from him ... And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Instead of giving up in frustration or deciding God did not care, Paul chose to trust that the Lord had a divine purpose for the infirmity. 

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Those who make an insincere confession of faith tend to use His 'no' as an excuse to abandon Him altogether. “God didn’t heal my baby.” “God didn’t save my marriage.” “God didn’t give me that job I needed.” 

If your view is that God is obligated to say 'yes' to your every prayer (like a genie grants wishes), you will be disappointed. You must choose whether to allow His 'no' to shatter your faith or build it up.