When God Has Other Plans...

Isn't it so wonderful when we receive a "Yes" from God for our prayers unto Him? And how do we react when we get a "No" for our prayers? Hmm... sometimes I have been very much disappointed with God for rejecting my plea. Yes, sometimes the "No" hurts. But God taught me some valuable lessons from people who reacted in another way to the "No's" they received from Him.

I was reading the Bible with my husband, and we were discussing the same. The topic was about David. David was so excited and grateful to the Lord that He had made him king over Israel. He loved God so much that he wanted to build a temple for the Lord. When the prophet Nathan heard it, he appreciated the thought, but after enquiring of the Lord about the same, he came back with a different answer—not a favorable one. But David humbled himself before the Lord and submitted himself to His will.

2 Samuel 7:12–14 says:

"When you die and join your ancestors, I will make one of your sons the next king, and I will set up his kingdom. He will build a house for Me, and I will let his kingdom rule forever. I will be his Father, and he will be my son."

After hearing this, David never murmured. He humbled himself and thanked God for revealing what was in the future and for being so kind to him. The "No" never stopped him from gathering everything that his son would need to build the temple. The "No" never stopped his love for the Lord.

This message came to me when I was pondering the many losses I have had in my life. Yes, we have so many unanswered questions. So many "why's." Then God shifted my mind to look at how He changed my own plans for my life when I was about to enter my college days. I then regretted it and cried so much because my dream was no longer there, and God had replaced it with something else. But if you ask me to go back and reverse the past toward the dreams I once had for myself, I would never, ever do that. God fulfilled His purpose beautifully by literally destroying what I wanted for my life. That one incident is enough to let me know that He thinks only the best and most excellent things for me.

Hey friend, are you worried or sad that God said "No" to your choices, your wishes, or your dreams? Yes, it is hard to pay the price for our calling. But remember, ten years from today, five years, or maybe even two years from today, when you look back, you will see how good God has been to you by not giving a straight "Yes" to all your pleas.

When the devil brings before us another imagined reality, do not sin in your mind. Know that we can never have a better plan than being rooted in God's plan. Let us learn from David to be humble when receiving the "No." Cry it out if that is what you want to do, but know that you and your future lie safe as long as you are in His hands.

In the Bible, we see no one described as a man after God's own heart more than David. God sees our hearts too. May God call us daughters and sons after His own heart. May we allow Him to write our stories. May His will be done.

Dear God, thank You for writing our stories. May we never write our own chapters. If given a chance, may we still write, "Let Your will be done." We are Yours, Lord. May You be immensely glorified in our choices. May we continue to choose You over everything. We thank You for all the "No's," for all the tears, for all the broken dreams and wishes. In Jesus' name we pray and give thanks. Amen.