It doesn't ever feel good to get a "no" in response to a question or a prayer, especially when it is about something we desperately want. Many, many times we pray, "God, please let me get this job," or "God, give me this opportunity," and many times, the answer is not the one we were hoping for. Instead of "yes," it's a "no" or a "not right now." It's hard. I've been there. We mistakenly think that because we simply bring it to Him, we will get what we've asked for. We begin to ask God, "Why? You know I deserved this." We compare ourselves to everyone else whose "prayers were answered," and we struggle with the fact that it wasn't us.
Matthew 21:22 says, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Misunderstanding this verse is where we often go wrong. What we see is this: if I know the right plan for my life, I just need to talk to God, and He will make it happen. Whatever it is.
That is not what it is saying.
What Matthew 21:22 is really saying is, when you ask for God's will to happen in your life, it will happen. When you ask for God to do what He knows is best for your life, it will happen. You may feel like you missed out on opportunities you think you deserve, but that is not true at all. God always has a reason for every job you don't get or any opportunity that does not work out.
You see, so many times we try to live life according to our plan, not God's plan, and let's face it, it never goes the way we think it will. We plan out our life based on what we think is right for our life, and when one thing goes wrong, we feel like our life is over. You can't believe that you didn't get that dream internship that you thought was the start of your career. You complain and moan about how it's not fair, because you worked hard for that. You deserved that. Well, what's crazy is, that internship you dreamed of? It wasn't in God's plan for you. Yeah, God's plan. The only plan that really matters.
It is disappointing when we do not get something we worked hard for, or we feel like we deserved. Trust me, I know from experience. You're going to face lots of times when God's answer is simply "no" and sometimes that's a tough pill to swallow. That's why we have to remember that we don't run the show; we only play a small part. We don't know what God's plan for our life will hold, and I think that is why we try to do everything ourselves. When we are living life according to our plan, we "know" what is going to happen next, because we think can control it. But haven't you seen what can happen when God is involved? Crazy, wonderful, unbelievable things that you couldn't imagine in your wildest dreams.
Maybe you prayed for something you thought you should happen, and God didn't say yes. It's not because God doesn't love you, and it's not because He doesn't care. It's because God knows best, every time. Count every "no" as a blessing, because each one is leading you closer to fulfilling God's purpose for your life.
