(October 10, 2022) Mama Lava shares from her heart about something we all need to accept…

Last week, I read a headline about accepting life as it is, especially when it isn’t what you expected. Since then, I’ve found myself thinking back to many things I’ve wanted, and for which I fervently prayed, that never came to be.

And my reaction has been – ‘Thank God that He doesn’t give us everything we ask for!’

Something I asked for…
I roller skated all around my neighbourhood as a kid  and I have a memory etched deeply into my mind. I was 11 or 12 and on my roller skates in the street in front of my parent’s house. And I was in love. It was puppy love, but at the time, I didn’t know the difference.

There was a boy. He was new to my world, popular, and intriguing. I wanted to be his girl.

He was cute. He was my age, but he was already going places. I thought, if he would just choose me to go with him, I’d have it made. ^{(Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com)}

I desperately begged the Lord to let me marry this boy. I was planning my future, right there on my roller skates. I had never prayed harder for anything! Thank God that He knows what’s best!

God gave me something better…
Well, the years went by, and I did not marry that boy. I barely even had a whole conversation with him, and I eventually lost interest. I heard he married after high school graduation, had a couple of kids, and divorced.

In college, I met Michael, the love of my life! I’ve been married to my guy for over 30 years and I’m still madly in love! Thank God that He said ‘No’ to that prayer of mine when I was a 12-year old!

There have been other instances where I thought I knew best and asked God to work things out my way. Most times, He has said ‘No.’ In each instance, looking back, I’m so glad He did!

God doesn’t give us everything we ask for…
As I was thinking these things this morning and formulating this post, my husband came to me with some difficult news. God had said ‘No’ to a prayer we’d been praying! And it hit me like a sucker punch to the gut.

It was something I’d been convinced God was already doing! You could say I had ‘taken it to the bank.’ But now it was final and the answer was ‘No.’

My husband and I were both deeply disappointed. We dealt with disappointments in our different ways. We each go to Jesus, of course… but my husband relaxes – lies down and closes his eyes. Me? I work my emotions out on the pavement!

My shoes bore the brunt as I cried out to God. There were words I needed to form so I could let them go. God was a patient listener while I ran and worked through the frustration I felt.

God’s profound timing…
As I started back toward my house, I could feel my peace returning. I’ve always been a silver lining person. When I hear bad news, I wrestle with it briefly and then lock onto the good, which God always reveals.

In this case, there were certainly positive angles to God’s decision. I began to thank Him for the provision in them. And then I realised how profound the timing was.

I was about to write a light-hearted ‘Thank God He doesn’t give us everything we ask for’ post – and He had just made it real. He had put me through it and reminded me that it isn’t easy in the moment. It can be painfully hard to be told ‘No.’

In everything give thanks…
Even in my disappointment, there was much to thank God for. Hadn’t He already prepared me for this ‘No’ answer by reminding me of those past requests I’m so glad He denied? Hadn’t I just been ruminating on how He’d delivered even better things than I’d asked for every time?

He had also added depth to this post I was about to write. Maybe someone else is in the throes of disappointment and will be encouraged by this very real and timely example. Perhaps you, dear reader?

Thank God He doesn’t give us everything we ask for!
God says ‘No’ when He has something better in store. I can’t wait to see what it is in this instance. I’m sure I’ll look back one day and see it clearly.

Bottom line, I believe God’s ways are higher than mine. And my emotions are real. Both can be true, but one has to win. I have decided that, in my life, God always wins. And you know what? I haven’t regretted it even once.

• That old traditional hymn says, ‘I have decided to follow Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.’
• Proverbs 3:6 encourages, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’
• Paul said, ‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks…’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Our desires would lead us into all kinds of trouble… and so I write it yet again – Thank God He doesn’t give us everything we ask for!

Can you think of examples in your life where you’re eternally grateful for God’s ‘No’ response to your prayer?

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Mama Lava believes in making the big world a bit smaller through connection. Believing that everybody deserves to be wrapped in maternal love when they need it, she regularly shares encouragements… telling life experiences from an unapologetically Christian viewpoint the way she sees it, just as a mother does. Link: Mama Lava’s Back Porch (A Dose of Maternal Love).
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