Trusting God Even When He Says “No”

As Christians, we are called to trust God even when He says no or when He is silent which feels a lot like a no. I have the tendency to either come up with different scenarios while waiting for His answer in the event He is quiet or I come up with different arguments to budge His no. What ends up happening when I get impatient and come up with my own bright ideas, is it usually falls flat or I get very frustrated which ultimately reminds me of who the parent is not. I have found out the hard way that when God says no it pretty much means the same thing as when a parent says no. I am then reminded that in the relationship I am the child and I have to trust that God is a good father. And not only that but just as we parents, because of the length of time we have been on earth, feel we can give good advice to our children well God who has been around since time began knows a thing or two.

I think why I struggle with getting a no from God is that it hurts, I take it personally and my mind which has a fertile imagination comes up with reminders of all the other times when God said no. What is fascinating is that my mind does not go on to show how those decisions were beneficial to me but rather it focuses on the feeling of rejection that I had then and links that to the rejection I am feeling in that moment. Very few people rejoice at being told no you can’t do that or no you can’t have that. I find the hardest no from God is the one written in His word because I have to  either pretend I didn’t see it or I didn’t understand it or the one I am most ashamed to admit is I can be plain stubborn and refuse to do what the word says. The latter hurts the most because when I choose to be disobedient, my spirit man suffers and this has a direct impact on my life and destiny. But thank God that He is a merciful father, His mercies are new every morning. He is exceedingly quick to forgive, if one humbles oneself, repents and seeks His forgiveness because guess what, fellowship with you is what He desires most!

My wish is to have the same quick turn around that children have when their parents say no because intuitively and instinctively they trust their parents. Children especially when they are younger tend to take your word at face value. My prayer is I be more like a child in my walk in faith as described by Jesus in Matthew 18:3. And he said; “ I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.