PSALM 106:13-15 – But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness and put God to the test in the desert; he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.”
THEME OF THE DAY: BE CAREFUL WHAT WE ASK GOD FOR. The opening of today’s scripture is the Israelites suffering “spiritual amnesia” soon after God gave them the victory over the Egyptians at the Red Sea. And it wasn’t long for this spiritual disease to grip them. In fact, only three days’ journey into the wilderness, they started complaining. First, because of no water. Six weeks later they were complaining and being critical about the manna. In their complaint, they wanted meat and God basically said, “Okay. You are not satisfied with My will. Sure. You want meat. You want your will. Okay, but it won’t go well with you.” And it didn’t. This is a biblical principle that going against God’s will never produces anything of lasting happiness or good. Just the opposite.
We are similar to the Israelites. We often find ourselves complaining when things don’t go the way we would like in life. Maybe even frustrated with the Lord by Him not answering our prayers as we desire. It isn’t just children who struggle with “no” from a parent. We, too, are tempted to struggle with a “no” from the greatest of Parents – our Heavenly Father. Few of us get to the place of the Apostle Paul when he received the divine “no” but all of us need to get there for Paul’s response was pleasing to the Lord – So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). When God says “no”, He will bring us to the point of contentment in the “no” while drawing near to us in a comforting way. Our responsibility is to accept His will, despite the pain and initial disappointment.
Yes, it is true, though hard to accept, but the best answer to some of our prayers is God saying “no” and not giving to us or doing for us what we ask of Him. He always knows what we need, what is best for us, and though His answers might be contrary to our wills and desires, they are ultimately for our good and His glory. And as His “no” is worked out in life’s circumstances, we will thank Him for not giving to us or doing for us what we asked of Him as we see His wisdom in action.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to be content with gladness when You don’t answer my prayers according to my will and desires.”
QUOTE: “Sometimes the best answer to our prayers is a ‘no’”.
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim