The answer to the "no" answers we get? Faith. That's it. Psalm 62:8 O my people, trust Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge. Expecting "yes,"all the time, expecting things to be perfectly aligned, expecting to sail through life with barely a ripple will only bring about frustration and discontent. This leads to bitterness and a hardening of the heart.
Ruth Meyers said, "In spite of what I think or feel when I get my eyes off You, I choose not to resist my trials as intruders, but to welcome them as friends." We want trials to disappear. We want the Lord to swoop in a sweep away every struggle, large and small. But this is not what happens. It's just not reality. "No" answers come to us.
2 Corinthians 12:9 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. God's grace is sufficient for all our trials, all our faults, all our ailments. Paul was given this answer when He pleaded with the Lord to take away his "thorn in the flesh." Basically, God said, "No." But Paul stepped up his faith and relied on God to take care of him. He used the "no" answer to give glory to the Lord. So we are called to accept the "noes." To trust God's answer, timing and heart. We are called to live by faith. Wow, that is certainly not easy for me! LOL
We are told in Romans 1:17 The righteous will live by faith." We will not get our way all the time. God's desire is our spiritual growth and strengthening, not making our every wish come true. He not only wants to benefit us through the "noes," He has a plan that encompasses those around us and beyond. I want to get to a place where hearing "no" makes me smile because I trust God has a better way and something good is going to happen because of it.
Lord, thank You for saying "No." Give us the grace to accept it as Paul did. Help us smile through not getting our own way, increase our faith. Let us look for the blessing that comes when You deny us our desires. Lord, give us greater trust in Your heart and Your wisdom. Let frustration turn to praise. Lord, I struggle so much in this area. Help me, and all of us grow. Forgive me for getting angry when I don't get my way. Forgive me for not trusting Your heart and Your ways. I fail so often. Thank You for being a God that forgives, a God of patience. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Let's try saying "thank you" every time we don't get our way today.
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