As children of God, we often bring our petitions before God with much anticipation in our hearts that he will do just what we ask of him. However, we must be ready for the times when his response to our request is a definitive, No. For some reason, we allow his No, to leave us feeling disappointed and confused. The scripture tells us, however, that “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps”. God’s direction is best even when it is not the one we desire for ourselves. Therefore, stay encouraged and stay in the will of God.
Most people can deal with waiting on God, but again what about when God says, No. What if you love the man you’re with, but God says, No this man isn’t your future husband? What if God says, No I have not called you to that position? What if God says, No to the very thing you’ve desired most. Do you override what the Lord says, or do you walk in obedience to him despite his No? God told Apostle Paul, No, I will not remove the thorn from your flesh; however, my grace is sufficient for you. Dear Reader, let me remind you that even 2,000 years later the Lord’s grace is still enough for us.
Don’t stay down in the dumps because God said No to your prayer. That man that you want so badly can turn out to be your worst nightmare one day. That position that you just had to have may one day cause you to compromise yourself. God’s ways are not your ways and his thoughts are not yours, as the earth is separated from the heaven so is his thoughts from yours. God sees further down the road than you do. He is eternal, and his wisdom is infinite. I would rather put my trust in him than to lean on my own understanding, which is limited. Sometimes what we ask for is not necessarily bad, but we are not ready for the blessing. We can even have the blessing right in our hands and not realize it. Your blessings can come in many different forms, but if you don’t recognize it for what it is you’ll give it away.
Many of you might be familiar with the story of Jacob and Esau. To put it succinctly, Esau did not realize the blessing of his birthright, but his brother Jacob knew that it was special, so he took it from Esau. Jacob became one of the most blessed man in biblical history. The twelve tribes of Israel came from Jacob, but it technically should have been Esau’s blessing. That little old church that you call insignificant, that brother or sister that you can do without, that friend that you axed could have very well been the bridge that God designed to bring you over and into destiny.
Remember God’s ways are not your ways…Trust him in 2018, not yourself.
