When God Answers No

What do you do when God answers no? Working on my master’s program was the hardest twenty-four months of study in my life! I can’t remember how many times I wept with frustration because I didn’t understand the assessments.

I experienced overwhelming stress and felt I couldn’t see how I was ever going to keep ahead of the course content. I remember the highs when I received better marks than I expected. Throughout the roller-coaster ride, I continued to picture myself in a cap and gown while attending the graduation ceremony with my parents. I completed my degree and was looking forward to celebrating my achievements.

Then came the most devastating news —my graduation ceremony was going to be held on Sabbath. I asked my prayer warrior friends to intercede on my behalf that God could provide a way for me to attend on another day.

As days came and went and the ceremony was fast approaching, I received another email asking me to confirm my attendance, but the date had not changed. With a heavy heart, I decided not to attend. I confess that I cried several times because of the disappointment that I felt. I remember telling my mum that I had sent in my RSVP, declining my attendance. Mum hugged me and said, “I’m sure you sent it in with a heavy heart. In this life, we will always have moments of disappointment, but imagine if you missed out on entering heaven. Wouldn’t that be a greater disappointment?” As I write this, my graduation ceremony would have been two days ago.

After that chat with Mum, I changed the way I prayed.

I asked God to take away the hurt and disappointment because I just couldn’t deal with it anymore. I also acknowledged that despite this answer of no to my first prayer, I would continue to praise Him because He is in control of my life.

Although I may never discover the reason this side of heaven, I have the reassurance that God wants only what is best for me.

Sometimes we need to stop banging on closed doors and turn our focus to trusting our heavenly Father. He wants to give us only the best, and that should be our aim too.

Jenny Rivera