When G d Says NO

There is good news and bad news about prayer. Good news: God answers prayer. Bad news: sometimes his answer is “No.” We don’t expect that from God. We assume that God is sitting on the edge of His throne just waiting in anticipation of our next request, and that we are entitled to receive whatever we ask for.

We’ve had some help in developing this opinion, and sadly, some of it has come from the pulpit. Some of the “popular preachers” bring messages of healing, happiness and financial security with statements like, “God wants you to be healed, be happy, be successful, etc.”

Imagine how the walls come crashing down when suddenly God’s answer to your prayer is “No.” What happens then? What does one make of such a circumstance? Let’s look at three characters from God’s Word Moses, David and Rav Shaul, when God said no.