This is an interesting blog topic that I am endeavoring to write about. Let me start by telling you where this topic was born from. Currently, I am in America visiting a friend who suddenly lost his 18-year-old son. Because I was traveling, I asked my two daughters (15 and 16 years old) what they wanted as a gift upon my return. One indicated what they wanted, but the other said, “Father, Nothing for me.” (I love how both my daughters naturally call me Father instead of Dad, as the word Father means so much more to me. 😊)

Given their young ages, it is easy to assume both would have wanted a gift. Of course, I reconfirmed that my daughter wasn’t just being modest. So, I asked her if she really didn’t want anything, and she said no.  Might I add, this is not the first time I wanted to give this daughter something, and she said no to the offer. Another time, we were going out for a meal, and when she heard where we were going, she said, “Father, that place is expensive. I don’t think we should go there.”

Now, returning to the first and most recent example, I never thought that hearing “No” would make me so happy. I was not delighted because my daughter saved me from spending money. I was pleased because of her actions’ thoughtfulness and maturity, which said, “I will only ask for something if I need something.” [DM1] When she said “No” via that text message, I felt it was the best “no” I ever received.  

From a broader standpoint, this experience made me reflect on how I react when I hear “no” in general. For instance, if you give someone a gift of money, they can respond with “No” and reject your offer. Accepting “no” in this situation might be easier because you are the giver and don’t have to be out-of-pocket with your money. However, sometimes you genuinely want someone to receive your gesture of kindness and hearing “no” and getting your offer rejected is not what you want to hear.  Similarly, we often dislike getting a “no” as a response when we are seeking to obtain something for ourselves. In a way, something about being human makes us dislike the word “no.”

Depending on the context, the word “no” can evoke a range of emotions. Generally, it can lead to feelings of disappointment, rejection, unappreciation, frustration, or even signify denial or refusal. In response to the question posed in the blog title, “Don’t you just love it when someone says, ‘No’?”, I would say that many of us actually dislike hearing “no.” It can feel like our egos are bruised, prompting us to wonder, “Why can’t I get what I want?” In this sense, I can only remark that “the flesh wants what the flesh wants.” and therein lies the problem: we cannot always get what we want.

Hearing “no” may not always give us what we want, but it often provides us with what we truly need. We need growth, and the word “no” can lead to that growth if we embrace it with maturity and an open mind. When we hear “no,” it encourages us to strategize and seek alternative ways to achieve our initial request. Hearing “no” can also help us develop patience as we wait for the right timing—God’s timing. Hearing ”no” can guide us on a path of self-improvement, so when God eventually says “yes,” we are better prepared to receive, appreciate, and benefit from His blessings. Like Job in the Bible, when God says “no,” it serves as a test to see how we handle lack and the withdrawal of His previous blessings. In the words of Job, “… The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” – Job 1:21.

The truth is that God uses both “yes” and “no” to guide and direct our lives. Imagine you are driving in an unfamiliar area and want to turn onto a street, but you see a stop sign indicating “no”—you cannot enter. Do you get upset or angry? No, you don’t. Instead, you trust that the traffic management authorities have designed the roads to ensure an effective and efficient traffic flow. You also believe that signs are placed to help you navigate and the layout is structured to reduce the risk of accidents and incidents. In essence, you trust the designer of the pathways.

As a driver, you learn to respect and respond to red stop signs, green go signals, and amber lights that indicate when to pause. Similarly, in our journey through life, we need spiritual traffic lights to tell us when to stop or move forward. It’s important to remember that ignoring these signals can have consequences. Therefore, let us be reminded that if God says “no” don’t go, we shouldn’t go.

The created thing (you and me) will never fully comprehend where the creator (God) is guiding us individually. Therefore, our role is simple: we must trust Him, and that’s all He asks us to do anyway. Trusting God will allow us to reach our destination safely, without delay, and any spiritual jetlag.

We must have faith when we hear “yes,” and we must have faith when we hear “no”. In these times of hearing “no,” we must rest assured that the Heavenly Father, the author of our faith, is doing what He does best: authoring our lives to bring Glory to His name.

Now, let’s ask ourselves if hearing “no” from God should make us happy. Absolutely! It should bring us joy. This joy comes only from firmly believing in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, I encourage you today to place all your faith and hope in God because He cares for you.

PS: Dane Miller was last seen waiting at a traffic light with a big smile on his face.

Note: If you enjoyed this blog, please also look at this one, which speaks on a similar topic – When God Says No or Wait.

Your Brother in the Lord,

Dane Miller – “God is the Author, I am the Pen”

Authored Book – What is the Woman Saying – Lessons from Biblical Women.

PS: I welcome your feedback on this blog post and encourage you to leave a comment below or subscribe.

 [DM1]Maybe that is why we don’t pray as much? We don’t realize how much we need stuff.