When God Hears and Says No

As I’ve previously shared in this article:

When God Moves But You Don’t Want To

God moved us from California to Arizona with many unexpected turns and bumps. But isn’t that life? We don’t always know what’s coming, nor do we want to know most likely.

Last week my post was about how God answered a prayer in a very short amount of time. You can read that article here:

Pray and Ask

But in this post today, I’d like to talk about how sometimes we can pray for something over and over and still feel like we are getting no answers.

Yes, in my last post I talked about praying my grandkids would move close to us and how God answered with a yes. But what I didn’t talk about, at least not yet, anyway, is how I have another prayer and grandson who lives in Texas.

Have I prayed he would live closer?

Yes.

Have I asked God to move us closer to him?

Yes.

When my husband began his search for where God would relocate us, I was sure it would be Texas where my grandson lives. I was certain of it. Then it became apparent that wasn’t going to happen. Ever since our son moved to Texas, I have not stopped praying we’d all be closer in distance.

It’s been over ten years.

So, God answered one prayer quickly and with a yes. And another prayer—one I’ve been praying for longer—with a no, not yet, but a consolation prize of Arizona-is-closer-to-Texas-than-California-is.

Do you have a prayer you send up to God but feel like He’s not listening?

Or feel like He doesn’t care about it?

Or feel like you’re getting the short end of the prayer stick?

Do we stop praying when we feel like God is not going to answer? No, not if it’s still on our heart.

I haven’t stopped praying for my grandson to live closer, but I have added a prayer.

And it is this…

That God would grant me enough money and time to be able to visit my grandson on a regular basis. This prayer He has answered with a yes, while I keep praying for my “bigger ask” prayer which seems impossible.

In the meantime, I accept that God wants good for me. Maybe visits are the better gift at this time?

Maybe there is a bigger picture that I’m just not seeing.

Like a puzzle. If we only have a few pieces of the puzzle it’s hard to imagine what the whole picture will look like in the end. Walking in faith looks much like that. We can’t see the whole picture but that doesn’t mean God isn’t working for our good.

Some things I just have to accept that “what is” is what’s best for me. Especially when “what is” is difficult and when I don’t like “what is.” That’s when faith comes in. And trust. God is moving even when we can’t see the whole picture.

For now, I’m okay with being one of the puzzle pieces until I graduate to glory when God will reveal all to me.

“So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

-Matthew 7:11

For more from Lucille Williams check out her marriage books, “The Intimacy You Crave” and “From Me to We”. Get weekly updates and SUBSCRIBE to LuSays today.