It’s so easy to get discouraged when God says no to us. His Word is filled with examples of people who fell into this trap. From Abraham, who wasn’t allowed to sacrifice his son Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22, to Jonah, who tried to run away from the Lord and abandon the people of Nineveh in Jonah 1–3. Even Paul struggled with this feeling of discouragement in Acts 16:6-10. But thankfully God never leaves us alone with these feelings! He gave us a way out so that we don’t have to be trapped by discouragement. Let’s take a look at three reasons why you should not be discouraged when God says no to your plans and how you can find hope again.
God Says No To Your Plan Because He Has a Better One
Why would God say no to something you’re trying so hard to accomplish? You might think it’s because he doesn’t want you to succeed or he doesn’t care about your dreams. But the truth is, he has a better plan in mind for you! His ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. God can see the big picture and has a plan for your life that is much greater than anything you could ever imagine. Paul writes in Ephesians 3:20, “God’s eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood through what he has made.” God created the world, the oceans, and everything else that exists. He has power beyond our comprehension, so when he says no to our plans, it’s because he has something better in mind.
God Says No to Test Your Trust
Do you really trust God? Or do you just say that you do? God may say no to your plans to test your trust. He wants you to trust him even when things don’t go your way. He wants you to put your hope in him, not your plans and dreams. He wants you to put your faith in him and let go of your own human strength and abilities. If you keep trying to do things on your own, you’ll never grow in faith. Just like an infant has to learn to walk, we have to learn to trust God. If you keep trying to do everything on your own, you’ll stay stuck in a rut of unbelief. God may be saying no to your plans to keep you dependent on him.
God Says No To Show Others He’s in Control
God is in control of everything that happens in the world. He uses all circumstances and situations to accomplish his will. He has a purpose and a plan for everything. He can use even your disappointments and frustrations to help others, and he can use those to help you as well. When you’re feeling discouraged or disappointed because God said no to your plans, you need to remember that he’s in control. He’s got a plan for your life and for the world around you. If you want to see God’s glory and power in your life, you need to trust him and his plans.
To Sum It Up
God’s ways are higher than our ways. Sometimes he says no to our plans because he has a better one. Sometimes he says no to test our trust, and sometimes he says no to show others that he’s in control. When he says no, it’s not because he doesn’t care about you. It’s because he loves you and has a plan that is far better than anything you could ever come up with on your own.
