WEBVTT 00:00:01.840 --> 00:00:08.320 Welcome to Celebration Baptist Church Podcast, where we help people connect with God and others. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:16.800 Each week you'll find biblical teaching, practical encouragement, and conversations designed to help you follow Jesus in everyday life. 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:24.879 To learn more about Celebration Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida, visit iCelebration.org and let's get started. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:33.119 Welcome to Drive Time Devotionals, a look at scripture to help you get your school or work week started with your focus in the right place. 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:37.119 I'm Katrina, the Director of Communications at Celebration Baptist. 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:42.880 Any good church attendee knows the three Sunday school answers to just about any question. 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:46.560 It's usually Jesus, read your Bible or pray. 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:50.000 But what happens when you do all of the right things? 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:59.679 We pray, we seek God, we ask other people to pray, we even find scripture that seems to support what we're asking for, but God still tells us no. 00:01:00.320 --> 00:01:07.120 Getting a no from God can be heartbreaking, especially when what you're asking for seems good, maybe even biblical. 00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:11.200 You might be praying for healing or for a relationship to be restored. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:26.079 Maybe you have a child that's wandered from God and you're praying for Him to return, or for a job that could provide for your family, or an opportunity to serve God that seems absolutely perfect, but the answer from God is no. 00:01:26.799 --> 00:01:30.319 Or maybe even harder, there wasn't an obvious answer at all. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:32.959 The door simply stayed closed. 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:39.680 If you've experienced that, you're certainly not the first person who's ever wanted something good and heard no from God. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.640 The Bible is full of these stories. 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:44.879 King David wanted to build the temple. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:47.760 I mean, that seems like a great thing to ask for. 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:52.079 David wasn't asking God to make him rich or more powerful. 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:55.120 He wanted to build a house for the Lord. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:02:00.000 But in 1 Chronicles 28, David explains that God told him no. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:03.280 His son Solomon would build the temple instead. 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:09.039 What's interesting is that David's response wasn't, fine, if I can't build it, I'm not helping. 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:09.680 No. 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:14.560 David began preparing for Solomon to do what he couldn't do. 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:18.319 David's no didn't mean that he had no part in God's plan. 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:21.919 It meant that his part was different from the one he had imagined. 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:26.080 Sometimes God's no is a redirection for us. 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:28.879 We see this again in Acts 16. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:38.960 The Apostle Paul and his companions wanted to go and preach the gospel in Asia, but Acts 16, 6 says they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:41.360 Think about how strange that must have seemed. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:48.000 They wanted to preach the gospel, and Jesus had literally commanded his followers to make disciples of all nations. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:52.080 How could preaching the gospel possibly be the wrong thing to do? 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:56.879 But God wasn't saying the gospel shouldn't be preached, he was redirecting Paul. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:03.520 Soon afterwards, Paul received a vision calling him to Macedonia, and the gospel moved into new territory. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:07.680 That closed door wasn't necessarily a judgment on what Paul wanted. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:11.280 It was a direction toward where God wanted him next. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:14.879 That's worth remembering when a good opportunity disappears. 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:18.879 A closed door doesn't automatically mean you misunderstood God. 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:24.080 It doesn't necessarily mean you failed, and it certainly doesn't mean God has stopped using you. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:28.240 Sometimes God is simply saying, not there, over here. 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:32.879 Other times God's know is part of our spiritual formation and growth. 00:03:33.039 --> 00:03:35.439 Paul experienced this personally too. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:40.400 In 2 Corinthians 12, he describes what he calls a thorn in the flesh. 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:45.599 We aren't told exactly what it was, but we know Paul desperately wanted it gone. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:51.439 He says, Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:52.800 And guess what? 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:54.240 God said no. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:04:02.319 Instead, God told him, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:09.199 Paul asked God to change his circumstances, and instead, God used his circumstances to change Paul. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:12.000 That's a much harder answer to prayer. 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:19.519 Because if I'm being truthful, most of the time I'd prefer God to remove the difficult thing rather than use the difficult thing to work on me. 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:28.959 But sometimes the thing we're asking God to take away is the very place where he is teaching us dependence, humility, perseverance, or trust. 00:04:29.439 --> 00:04:33.680 That doesn't mean every painful thing happens because God is teaching us a lesson. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:38.160 We should be very careful about telling someone else why God has allowed their suffering. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:42.240 But scripture does tell us that God can work through suffering. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:49.759 Romans 5 tells us that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:54.639 Sometimes God's no can also reveal something about our own hearts. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:57.839 Disappointment has an interesting way of doing that. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:01.439 When God doesn't give me what I want, how do I respond? 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:02.959 Am I disappointed? 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:04.800 Am I furious with God? 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:06.720 Can I still worship Him? 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:09.199 Can I still trust His goodness? 00:05:09.839 --> 00:05:15.600 Can I genuinely say, God, I want this desperately, but I want you more. 00:05:23.439 --> 00:05:30.240 Sometimes we read that verse as if delighting in God is the key to convincing Him to give us what we already want. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:36.079 But the reality is that as we delight in God, something happens to our desires themselves. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:38.560 We begin to want what He wants. 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:40.879 And sometimes that process hurts. 00:05:41.120 --> 00:05:47.279 Because God loves us too much to allow anything, even something good, to take his place in our hearts. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:52.560 But there is one example of God saying no that puts all the others into perspective. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:54.560 Jesus Himself. 00:05:55.040 --> 00:06:02.560 On the night before the crucifixion, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and prayed, Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:06.079 Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:11.519 Jesus asked for the cup to be taken away, and the cup wasn't taken. 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:13.439 He went to the cross. 00:06:13.759 --> 00:06:20.639 If we've ever been tempted to believe that God saying no means he doesn't love us, Gethsemane should stop us in our tracks. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:28.079 The Father loved the Son perfectly, and still the road ahead led through the cross. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:31.360 Jesus didn't pretend that he wanted suffering. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:34.800 Luke tells us that he was in anguish that night in the garden. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:37.120 And I think that's important for us to remember. 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:41.839 Trusting God doesn't mean pretending that it doesn't hurt when he says no. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:47.680 There are times when Christians can be far too quick to put a spiritual bow around their disappointments. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:51.600 We tell ourselves God has a plan, and that's true, he does. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:57.600 Romans 8.28 tells us that God works all things together for the good of those who love him. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:03.600 But saying God will use this for good doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:07.600 Ecclesiastes 3 tells us there is a time to weep. 00:07:07.839 --> 00:07:12.079 And Psalms 34, 18 says, the Lord is near the brokenhearted. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:15.360 God doesn't ask us to pretend we're not brokenhearted. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:17.839 So what do we do when God says no? 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:20.720 First, we need to grieve honestly. 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:23.839 Tell God that you're disappointed, that you're confused. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.839 Tell him you don't understand. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:29.600 The Psalms are filled with people doing exactly that. 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:32.800 Biblical faith is remarkably honest. 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:35.439 Second, keep praying. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:39.439 Jesus told us in Matthew 7 to ask, seek, and knock. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:46.240 God's no isn't an invitation to stop talking to him, and prayer isn't just a way of getting things from God. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:48.319 Prayer is relationship with God. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:54.319 Sometimes prayer changes our circumstances, and sometimes over time, prayer changes us. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:08:01.519 First John 5.14 says, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:06.240 Notice the promise isn't that God always gives us exactly what we ask for. 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:08.800 The promise is that he hears us. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:12.160 And finally, keep trusting in God. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:19.439 Isaiah 55, 8 through 9 reminds us, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:21.600 This is the Lord's declaration. 00:08:21.839 --> 00:08:27.920 For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:31.279 There will be times when we don't understand God's answers. 00:08:31.519 --> 00:08:35.759 There may even be prayers we don't fully understand the answer to on this side of eternity. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:41.200 Hebrews 11 describes faithful men and women who died without receiving everything God had promised. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:47.519 They trusted something beyond what they could see because they were looking towards a better place, a heavenly one. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:52.000 Sometimes faith means trusting God without getting an explanation. 00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:52.879 C.S. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:57.279 Lewis once wrote, We're not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:00.559 We're wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:02.720 Maybe that's where you are today. 00:09:02.879 --> 00:09:05.200 You're not sure why God has said no. 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:13.519 You're standing in front of a closed door that you were convinced should have opened, or you're still praying and wondering whether the answer will ever come. 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:17.440 You don't have to pretend that it doesn't hurt, but you can remember this. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:21.360 God's no is not evidence of God's absence. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:33.120 His no may redirect you, it may form you, it may reveal something in your heart that he wants to change, or he may be accomplishing something that you simply cannot see yet. 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:36.320 And sometimes we might never know the reason. 00:09:36.879 --> 00:09:41.120 But the cross gives us a reason to trust the one giving the answer. 00:09:41.360 --> 00:09:47.440 Because right there in Gethsemane, the Father said no to Jesus' request for the cup to pass from him. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:53.360 And through that no, came the greatest yes humanity has ever received. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:10:01.440 We got forgiveness, salvation, reconciliation with God, and eternal life. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:08.399 So this week, if you're carrying a prayer that God hasn't answered the way you had hoped, don't stop talking to him. 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:10.559 Grieve it if you need to. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:18.000 Keep asking him, keep listening to him, and keep trusting the God who sees what you can't see. 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:25.440 Because even when we don't understand his answer, we know his character and we know he is faithful. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:28.960 Have a great week, celebration family. 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:33.519 Thanks for joining us on the Celebration Baptist Church podcast. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:38.159 We hope today's conversation helps you take another step in your faith journey. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:44.639 For more resources, upcoming events, and to join us live, visit iCelebration.org. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:50.480 Until next time, keep connecting with God, connecting with others, and living on mission.