When God Says No

Recently I have been reading back through Max Lucado’s book In the Grip of Grace. The book was given to me by a friend several years ago when I was dealing with some uncertainty in ministry. It is special to me for that reason, and the author’s words always seem to be timely and relevant. In the front of the book my friend inserted a personal note, part of which indicated that her favorite chapter is the one called “Sufficient Grace.” In that chapter Lucado raises the question that few of us want to face, though most of us will: What if God says no?

As Christians we are encouraged, through prayer and supplication, to make our requests known to God (see Phil. 4:6). This is good practice. Acknowledging our needs and desires is an important relational dynamic between ourselves and God. We pray with confidence that God hears us and that God is concerned for us. We pray trusting that there is no issue so small that God disregards it, no issue so great that God cannot handle it. We employ the adage that “it never hurts to ask,” recognizing that the One to whom we make our request is the sovereign Creator of the Universe. Testimony to answered prayer would fill countless volumes. Often God answers in ways that are more marvelous than we could have hoped. Sometimes, though, we are faced with the answer that we hope never to hear.

There are accounts in scripture of God’s “no” to his people. For example, David got a “no” when praying for the life of his child (2 Sam. 12:16-18). Jesus got a “no” when he asked that the way of the cross be avoided (Luke 22:42). Of course, each example is unique. When examining the accounts of God’s “no,” our temptation is often to analyze why God answered in that way. “The request was made with wrong motive” or “God was doing something better.” While these factors have a place in other conversations, I invite us to focus on the question as posed by Max Lucado. It is not a question of why God says no; it is a question of how we respond when God says no. The question, simply put, is this: When God says no, is grace sufficient?

“My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 12:9). While that line has such a nice ring to it, the truth is that we would rather not hear it applied to our own lives. Why? Because it means that God has said no. God has said no to the physical healing, no to the removal of an obstacle, no to the changing of someone’s attitude, no to the better job that seems so attractive. God could have said yes. Maybe at some point it will be yes. For now, though, God says that His gracious, active, loving presence in your life is enough. So I pose the question for your (and my) response: is grace enough? Can I be satisfied that God’s power will be made complete in me? Can I praise God without any expectation that He will reciprocate with some tangible blessing? Can I trust that God’s “no” may be part of my own sanctification, and that “no” may be a part of God working all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28)?

In one month we will celebrate the greatest event in the course of human history. Even if Easter were the only gift we ever received from God, wouldn’t it be enough, my friends?

See you along the winding path…