When "No" or "Not Now" Are the Perfect Answers

Matthew 7:9

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

Prayer is an appointed means for obtaining what we need.  We are commanded in the Holy Word to pray often and to be persistent in praying for our needs.  Almighty God promises to hear our prayers in order to fulfill our needs in accordance with His will for our lives.  If this were not so, then we would not be instructed to make praying a daily habit.

We may be confused when it seems that our prayers are not answered.  On the other hand, we should have many examples in our carnal lives in how needs are properly met.  As parents, one of our strongest desires is to feed our children when they are hungry.  It is also one of our greatest responsibilities.  Yet, if our children ask for ice cream when it is dinner time, our answer is usually "no" or "not now".   While our commitment to them is to feed them, our larger commitment is to see them grow up and become healthy adults.

While the Lord promises to hear and answer all of our prayers of need, His promises are bound by the higher covenant of preparing us for our eternal life in heaven with Him.  So while He always hears our prayers, sometimes His answers will be "no" or "not now."  Each case will be determined by Him based on where we are or where those that we are praying for are in the path of sanctification.  He will answer in perfect timing in accordance with His will for the lives of all involved.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for hearing and answering all of our prayers.  We thank You that You often protect us by not giving us what we ask for when it will take us off the path that You have set aside for our lives.  We pray for the strength to endure when the "nos" and the "not nows" seem so painful.  We ask, Lord, that You help us to keep seeking You so that our prayers will come into alignment with Your will for our lives.  We ask all these things in the name of El Shaddai, our mighty and all sufficient provider, Jesus Christ.