When God says “No”

We pray.  But that is no guarantee that God will answer what we ask, the way we ask it, or in the time frame that we ask it.  He is no genie in a bottle for us.

So when God seems slow to answer, or answers prayers contrary to our asking, we might ask ourselves some of the following questions:

• Is God listening?  (Ps. 94:9; 4:3; 5:3)
• Does God care?  (Ps. 77:7-9, 11)
• Am I praying in God’s will?  (Jn. 14:14)
• Is God’s deny or delay being used to curb my pride?  (2 Cor. 12:7)
• Have I really persevered in prayer?  (2 Cor. 12:8)
• Am I content with God’s answers, regardless?  (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
• How is timing involved in the answer?  (Jn. 11:6ff)
• Is God answering this prayer in a different form than I would expect?  (Mk. 2:1-12)
• What does God want to accomplish in me?  (Ps. 94:18-19; 142:2; 2 Cor. 4:7)
• Is there anything hindering my prayer?  (Ps. 66:18-20; Is. 59:1-2; 1 Pt. 3:7)
• Do I lack trust in God?  (Js. 1:6-7)
• Is God asking me to do something to answer this prayer?  (Ex. 14:15-16; 1 Pt. 4:19)
• Can I trust God with the outcome?  (Ps. 23:6; 92:15)

When God delays or denies your requests, remember that “One day, we shall gratefully see that God’s great refusals were sometimes the truest answers to our prayers.” [P. T. Forsythe]