Thankful for No

In this month of Thanksgiving, I thank God — not only for what he’s given me, but for every prayer he said no to. What a disaster my life would have been if he gave me everything I asked for. 

When God says no, he’s preparing a greater yes. I believe that with all my heart because I’ve seen it play out again and again in my own life. Even if he denies something good and pain enters your life, this pain can end up being something good in our life. (Maybe it teaches us something new, brings us closer to God, etc.)

I often contemplate on what it really means to trust God. True trust means surrender. It means letting go of pride and wanting to control one's own life.

It's like a father trying to rescue his son who’s hanging off a cliff. The father stands above, holding a rope, calling down, “Tie this around you and jump — I’ll pull you up!” The son has a choice. If he trusts his father, he’ll obey and find safety. If he hesitates or refuses, he’ll meet a bad consequence. 

That’s what faith looks like. When we pray for something — even something good — we should do so with open hands remembering that God sees the whole story. I see only the next page. His “no” may mean not yet or not this way. He knows what I can’t possibly see.

So I’ve learned not to trade God’s best for something that’s merely good. Good things can come easily, but the best things require patience, growth, and faith. Why rush down the path marked “good” when the road to “best” is just ahead — if only I’ll trust him enough to wait?

There’s a song I love that has become my prayer —

I've prayed and prayed about it and asked for what I want. 

But Lord, I've come to realize you're God and I am not. 

So I bring you my desire believing you know best. 

And along with my petition, I ask one more request. 

If it's not your will, let it slip right through my fingers. 

Give me grace not to worry, for your plan will be fulfilled. 

If the answer is wait, then what you have for me is better. 

Help me not be in a hurry but be still if what I'm praying for is not your will. 

Remembering decisions I made and days gone by, I trust in my own wisdom then, but turmoil filled my life. 

So, you showed me where there's peace.

You speak and I obey. 

Now the choice is up to you, Lord, and I'm glad that I can say...

If it's not your will, let it slip right through my fingers. 

Give me grace not to worry, for your plan will be fulfilled. 

If the answer is wait, then what you have for me is better. 

Help me not be in a hurry but be still if what I'm praying for is not your will. 

If It's Not Your Will