Denied By God

Many are the plans in the heart of a man, but it is the purposes of God that shall prevail. – Proverbs 19:21 
 
God answers prayer in four ways.  
 
First, God answers prayer directly. There are times when God gives us the precise thing we ask. We can ask for a black car with tan interior, and God can give us the direct thing we prayed for.  
 
Secondly, God answers prayer differently. Perhaps we wanted the black car with the tan interior, but God may give us the tan car with the black interior. Even though it’s not the exact color we wanted, it serves the same purpose.  
 
Thirdly, God answers prayer through delay. There are times when God puts us and our requests on hold to let us know that either we or the blessing isn’t ready for us yet. So he says, “Wait! It’s not done yet.”  
 
However, if God doesn’t answer your prayer directly, if God doesn’t answer your prayer differently, or if God doesn’t answer your prayer through delay, lastly, He’ll answer your prayer through denial.  
 
As the sovereign Lord of our lives, God reserves the right to tell us “no!” God is not obligated to move how and when we want Him to move. And yet, when God says “no,” there’s still a blessing in that answer.  
 
Consider this example. No responsible parent says “yes” to their child all the time. The older you get, the more you realize just how much your parents love you, not for the things they granted, but also for the things they denied. You realize that in saying “no,” they weren’t trying to penalize you. Most often they were trying to protect you. In like manner, the omniscience of God, His capacity to see things that we can’t see, and to know things we don’t know, sometimes causes Him to deny us because He knows what is best for us. 
 
So if God has told you “no” recently, don’t get so frustrated that you think no good could come from that denial. Instead, trust that He has your best interest at heart and that His “no” can lead to an even better “yes.”