Thank You For Saying No, God

Each week at church, Pastor John has a brief devotional time with the children.  Pastor John is a gifted storyteller, and it’s always interesting to see and hear the kids interact and respond to the message.  Some pretty interesting and insightful observations are made by the kids in response to John’s talk each week.

Pssst…I listen, learn, and am challenged too!  [I expect that I am not the only adult either!]

Last week, John shared about how he always wanted an elephant as a pet when he was growing up, but his dad would never get one for him.  He asked the children if they thought it was a right or wrong for his father to NOT give him the pet he wanted.  Of course, the kids thought it was the right decision – sharing that an elephant was too big, messy, “stinky,” etc. – and really not a good pet for the home.

Pastor John then shared how, just as his father said no for good reasons (and our father’s often as well), so it is with God, our Heavenly Father.  Sometimes God says no to our requests because He knows what is best for us or when something is best for us.  As a Follower of Jesus, I’ve heard this before (as most Followers have) – it’s nothing new…it’s certainly what we hear, believe, and often cling to when things don’t work the way we prayerfully hope they do (i.e., asking God for a “pet elephant.”)

The next part of John’s talk hit me in the gut.

He led the children in prayer – thanking God for wisely saying no to our requests.

I really can’t recall thinking about or praying this on a regular basis – or ever – much less actually doing it.  Sure I make requests (sometimes masqueraded as “asking for His will in my life” if I’m honest here), but actually thanking Him for the NOs in my life just as I so fervently do the yes answers?  Again, gut punch.

As I’ve chewed on this all week, I thought about the time God said NO to Jesus:

And going a little farther, he [Jesus] fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you.  Remove this cup from me.  Yet not what I will, but what you will.”  …  And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.

And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.

Mark 14:35-36, 39 & 15:37 (ESV)

Twice, Jesus asked God to change what was coming – torturous death on a cross.  While we don’t read or hear about God saying NO to Jesus’ prayer, we know He did say no.  In my license here, I would say that, in His unshakable obedience, Jesus was thanking God for saying NO.  They both knew the purpose for Jesus’ life and death.  God saying yes to Jesus’ prayer, while reasonable for any loving and caring father was not the answer that would satisfy the price for Man’s offense of sin.  We can all thank God for saying no to His beloved Son.

Bottom line: I strive to always thank God for His yes – I should be just as grateful and thank Him for His no.  God knows what is best for me; He has a plan (Jeremiah 23:11) and purpose (Colossians 1:16b).  I pray in my dependent obedience and faulty, but effort-filled modeling of Jesus, that I thank the Father as He did.

Thank You for providentially saying no in my life, God…

Maranatha!