I have been praying for something this week that I REALLY, REALLY want God to say yes to. But . . . I realize that what I want may not be His best for me. And I have to accept that with joy. If God says no, then I know it’s because of one of three reasons: it’s not good for me, it’s not the right timing, or He has something better for me. I have to keep reminding myself of this.
This morning as I was praying again for this situation and that God would say yes, He reminded me of two passages in Scripture that encouraged me greatly.
Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”
That verse doesn’t mean God will give me everything I want. But He will give me everything He deems best for me. If He gave His own Son for me, He’s not going to withhold other things that He deems good for me. He loves me and wants what’s best for me.
The other passage is Luke 22:42 when Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion. He prayed, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
I thought about that prayer this morning. Jesus asked the Father to “change the plan.” He asked Him to remove the cup, and God the Father said no to His Son. Not because the Father didn’t love His Son; but because He knew this was best in His sovereign plan to save the world from sin. He could have said yes, I’ll remove the cup; but where would we be today?
Jesus gave us a great example of how to pray. Be honest with God and ask Him for the desires of your heart; but pray with the heart attitude of, “not my will, Lord, but Yours be done.”
Are you praying for something today that you desperately want God to say yes to? Remember that God wants to give you good things, and He wants you to rest in His sovereign plan for your life.
