I suspect we have all heard the old adage “God has three ways to answer our prayers: Yes, No, and wait awhile.” Said person will go on to explain:
A “Yes” is always nice to hear because that virtually means God agree with you. 
A “No” while hard to take, is at least an answer. However, it does mean that God did not agree with you.
A “wait awhile” is an answer, but certainly not one we are crazy about getting. As implied, it means “stand kneel wait around for who-knows-how-long until God decides to answer your prayer.”
I have always said the “Yes” and even the “No” were the preferred answers. I have trouble with that waiting gig. Do you? Please say yes so I know I am not alone!!
Truthfully, hearing a “No” is not the easiest thing either. When your heart is set on something and God says, “No” that sort of takes the stuffing right out of you. Sure God has spoken. Sure God has made His desire known. Sure God has definitely shown a door has been closed. But I am speaking from experience when I say hearing a “No” does take the wind out of the sails. Especially… especially when it seemed like a done deal. Been there had that happen.
David knows what it is like as well. Strange thing is that God sometimes says “No” even when the request is an okay one. Twice David was told “No” by God, once even after Nathan, God’s prophet, said, “Go for it.” Let’s go backwards though. God’s first “No” was to a legitimate plan- bringing the Ark to Jerusalem. The oxen pulling it stumbled, Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark and lost his life over it.
The other time was when David wanted to build the Temple. He was appalled that his own personal mansion was bigger and better than where “God lived.” Given the go-ahead by Nathan he began to make plans, but God said “No” to that plan. David’s son, Solomon, was to build it.
Why the “No” to a legitimate plan (to bring the Ark to Jerusalem)? Disobedience (the Ark was to be carried with poles by the Levites not on a cart with oxen) ruined that. Why the “No” to a legitimate desire? Being a man of war put the kibosh on that. God has said “No” to my requests before and they certainly haven’t been as honorable as David’s.
What about you? I’m sure God has told you “No” at one time or another. As you look back, are you glad he did? What was is your reaction to hearing “No”? Thanks for your prayers this weekend.
Yes is great. I can deal with a no. But wait a while, when that while is long, can oftentimes seem like there is a transmitter but no receiver. This is especially true when it seems like everything sent upward falls into this category.
I too can deal with the yes or no. It is the waiting one that gives me fits.
Maybe my ears don’t work properly. I have never heard God say “Yes”, “No” or “Wait”. It would eliminate a lot of confusion though if it actually did happen.
I have never “heard” it either Jeff. It happens by way of circumstances or how things work out. Having trouble finding the words at the moment to explain.
Disappointing. I was hoping you could shed some light on what Christians think, when they think they hear God. When it turns out good it is God’s doing? When it turns out bad we should have waited or it’s our fault? What are you really saying it is?
I’m sorry Jeff. You got my Friday/Saturday short answer. That is no excuse honestly. As for “hearing from God”, I can’t say I have. I know I have never heard an audible voice as some claim to have. I am a firm believer that God is in the good and bad. Not that He causes it but can use it. God sometimes allows us to wade through our choices, but never leaves us. Even when we choose to disobey and go our own way, He goes with us. I do know that God will not ask us to do anything that violates His Word or His character or principles. So for someone to kill someone, for example, and say, “God told me” is not Him. I have also been known to go ahead of God because of my own impatience. If I had waited He may have had something far better for me, but my lack of patience blew that apart. Even then, God does not tell me to go it alone. Not sure if this answers your questions or not.
Not sure if this will help Jeff, but when I “hear” God, it isn’t an audible voice, it’s more like a thought has come into my head & the more I ignore it, the more it stays with me, when I finally relent & do what that “thought” has been saying,only then do I feel peaceful. I know it’s God because I feel at peace, if it’s a decision & I just don’t get an “answer”, I usually go with I won’t do it and if I do go ahead & do whatever it is & it turns out bad, I blame myself for a bad choice & try to learn something from it.
I’m not saying that I have this all worked out so that it is easy-peasey, but isn’t every answer in one way a “Yes” from Him? What I mean is that isn’t every answer a “Yes, here is what is best for you?” That doesn’t mean I don’t go through a range of feelings in that process.
I see what you are saying. He always has what is best for us, even if it is a no. So I see what you are saying.
Sometimes, ultimately, “yes” is harder to walk out than “no” or “wait.” Over the past year, I have become less invested in getting what I think I want, and putting more energy put toward moving on and depending on the Holy Spirit to point out the direction as I am moving. I really wanna be a birds of the air lilies of the fields kind of gal. I’ve spent a lot of my life with a killer grip on what I want, or think that I need, and that just sucks the juice out of a body. Yeah, sometimes I still get in a panic because I don’t think my Abba is doing anything, or isn’t moving along quickly enough. But, oh my! how I love it when His plans come together. Especially when apparent detours turn out to be the main event.
Put perfectly Susan. These are my thoughts exactly.
I agree with Jan Susan. Well said.
Funny, I have a saying in life, more business than personal that goes, “I’ve heard ‘no’ so many times it rolls off me like water off a duck’s back.” Yes, I stole the duck part of the adage.
No is part of our lives and as much as I hate hearing it, the times God has told me no, but I wasn’t listening, have been the worst or best lessons I’ve ever learned.
The sad part is that I’ve had to learn it over and over… you know what they say about a person doing the same thing over and over expecting different results? Yeah, I thought so!
Praying for you and your flock this weekend BIll. God bless!
I have often gone where angels fear to tread (balked at a no) and like you, have found it be an awful time in my life. But I am still glad that God didn’t abandon me during that time.
Thanks for the prayers.
No’s are hard to swallow. I tend to have tug of war matches with God before I finally surrender to the no. In hindsight, He’s always been right.
Good choice of words Eileen: tug of war. It can be a wrestling match.
Hi Bill,
My no!! seems to come from the Bible. The scriptures have been my ‘saviour’ so to speak, several times, if not many, many, times.
I don’t like to recognize no!! at the time, but a few months or years later I thank God from the depth of my heart for keeping me from that serious error that I was hoping would be ok with God.
We can petition God for the needs we have in this world but our feet need to be in paths of righteousness, or at least heading in that direction. ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you’.
We have our answer.
I have been where you are talking Linda. The wisdom of a No now can often be seen months or even years later.
Hi Bill,
We’re not some fallen child trying to manipulate our ‘parent’ to give us another piece of ‘candy’. We are born again renewed saints, part of the body of Christ, trying to come into the fullness of Christ.
This is a total different viewpoint than trying to manipulate God into giving us more of the pleasures of this world.
We have needs for sure. The Bible recognizes these needs. We need food, shelter, and safety.
We need love, hope, and faith. We need education. The Bible is a great educator, the Holy Spirit is a marvelous teacher and gifter. There is nothing about life that the Bible does not address and teach rightly about.
I sometimes wonder if God used any of Moses’ education and upbringing that he learned in Pharoah’s house while the children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years. I don’t think so.
Hi Bill,
I’ll pray for your service and for your message on Sunday. A while back I listened to one of your online sermons. The Holy Spirit was there ministering to people in your message, but then at the end of the service you dismissed what He was doing in hearts by assuring everyone that ‘all was fine. No one had any need to be concerned’. The conviction and work of the Holy Spirit broke off immediately after you said this. I’m looking forward to listening again to one of your sermons:)
Appreciate your prayers. I have sent you a personal email to find out what sermon that was. Not defending myself but want to know context and also why I said it. I don’t want to do it again if it deterred from the message.
I’m with Daniel – I can deal with a no. Sometimes, it’s actually good – when you wonder whether to do something or no, and God says “No” – makes the choice simpler (not easier, but simpler…)
I *hate* “wait awhile” answer. It’s the ambiguity of it that kills me – it’s not a yes, but it’s not a no and you’re just… waiting for SOMETHING.
I think it is the ambiguity that kills many of us Zee.
“No” is the answer I almost always seem to get from God. But it’s an answer that makes me appreciate the reason why behind it the most.
I think a no does wake us up Ed to seeing what God has for us.
When God says ‘no’ it’s usually not fun for me, but then come a few months or years later, I realize His response is the best thing that happened to me. The truth is our eyes can never see as far as God’s eyes have already seen. It’s like the clay telling the Potter the best way to shape it, when the Potter is the One who truly knows. God’s best beats ours hands-down by a far margin
I totally agree that it is not fun, but as you state so well, His best beats ours hands-down. Gotta remember that in the midst of the no.
Good to hear from you Jaycee.