When God Says No

 

““Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” (Matthew 7:7–11, NLT)

“I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24, NLT)

“You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:13–14, NLT)

 

Have you ever asked God for something and he seemed to not be listening? You ask, like it says in the Bible, but he doesn’t give you what you asked for? That is what happened with my mom and me.

I was visiting my mom in MB and we were running a lot of errands all over the city. Because of ‘the COVID’, we were wearing masks whenever we went into a store. Then when we climbed back into the car, we took them off. It wasn’t until later in the day, after we had returned to my mom’s home, that she noticed her hearing aid was gone. No wonder I had to keep repeating everything I said! Our first response was to cry out to Jesus to help us find it, to show us where to look. We looked through garbage, scoured the car, examined the parking lot where we had unloaded the groceries, phoned all the businesses where we had gone inside. Nothing. No hearing aid.

Lord, what is that about? My mom is a widow. You said you defend them and look after them. This doesn’t feel like you are looking after her. She can’t afford to replace it. Please do something.

This was Tuesday. She phoned her insurance company to see if they could do anything for her. Well, yes if she would supply them with the original invoice for the hearing aid and send them an estimate of a similar model from the audiologist, they would be able to help her. The hearing aid was 12 years old and she had moved since then. There was no way she could find that invoice. But Enhanced Hearing did in fact have a record of when she purchased it, the model, and how much it had cost. Finally, we had all the documentation into the appropriate people. And guess what?! The insurance company agreed to pay all but Mom’s deductible for a brand-new hearing aid. This one even has upgraded technology!

My mom was still disappointed that God had not answered her prayer. She liked that hearing aid and did not want to have to adjust to a new one. As she was debriefing with me, I heard her say that it had been falling apart and it wasn’t the first time it had dropped off her ear. She should have taken it in to be repaired. Not only was she disappointed with God, she was disappointed with her own neglect.

In the midst of her grief and frustration she could not see the gift that was being unwrapped in front of her. God had a much better gift for her than to find the 12-year-old-worn-out hearing aid. He had a surprise for her. Had her hearing aid merely ‘died of old age’ she would have had to replace it at full cost to herself. Aging is expensive!! Now she gets an upgrade for a fraction of the cost.

More times than I care to admit I have reacted just like my Mom did. I have a vision for how God should answer and provide for me. It’s a well thought out exquisite plan. Then, when God doesn’t take my idea, I battle with disappointment and grief. Why is he not listening? Why does it say in the scriptures that we can ask whatever we want, and he’ll give it to us, if he doesn’t answer when we ask? Mostly I don’t know why. But sometimes he shows me why.

Having said that, “Why?” is not a very good question to ask. I am learning that I do better to ask, “What are you trying to teach me in this situation?” I have learned that God is always good and if he is not giving me what I am asking for, he has an even better plan. But honestly, that doesn’t always bring comfort in the moment. Often, I choose to pout for a bit first. Many times, God answers my question with a question of his own, “Can you trust me with this?” Every time I am humbled by that question because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is totally trustworthy, he is good, and if I need it, he will provide it. It’s not always wrapped the way I would choose but it is always good. It doesn’t always arrive on my timetable, but it always arrives at the perfect time.

What is God saying ‘no’ to you about today? Have you asked him what he has for you to learn in the situation? Or maybe you are like me and you need a bit of time to pout. God is with you in your pouting, too. Only don’t stay there overlong. He longs for your heart. Do you see his hand reaching for yours? Do you hear his voice gently asking you, “Do you trust me?” Do you believe he may have something even better than you could ask or imagine in store for you?

The problem was that my mom needed a hearing aid to help her hear. We thought the best thing would be for us to find the one that had been lost. God did answer that prayer; he did provide a hearing aid for her. But he ‘upped the ante’ and gave her a much better one, and it even came with warranty! The problem was that our ‘ask’ was too small. Sometimes we would do better to stop and ask how God wants us to pray. Had we simply come to him and said, “Father, we have a problem. Would you solve it for us?”, we could have skipped the disappointment phase, waited in excited anticipation while he worked on the details and then gone straight to the rejoicing phase. I can see the smile on his face as he gave her more than what she asked for.

I asked Mom about it the other day and she is overjoyed with her new hearing aid. God is so much better than we give him credit for.