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In Ecclesiastes 3:11, we read that God makes everything beautiful in its time. It is comforting to know that nothing is wasted in God's economy, but all of it will be used for our good and His glory. You're invited to join us for poignant conversations and compelling interviews centered on believing for His beauty in every season.
Everything Made Beautiful (01:03)
Well, hey friends, welcome back to Everything Made Beautiful. I'm so glad you're here for episode two of our series, Sacred Choices, the beauty of yes and no in every season. Now today's topic is one that has likely touched us all and that is all about when God says no. Today we're gonna explore how God's no, though often painful, is not a rejection, but rather an invitation to trust
grow and rest in his goodness. Have you ever prayed for something and heard no? Maybe you didn't hear an audible no, I never have. But maybe the door closed or the opportunity fell through or things didn't unfold the way you hoped. These moments leave us wondering if God is holding out on us sometimes. For some of you though, God's no has come in the form of long seasons of waiting for a baby.
hoping for a spouse or watching dreams that you've nurtured for years never materialize. These no's feel like heartbreak and heartsick, making us question not only whether God is holding out on us, but whether God is truly for us to begin with. Yet, even in these intensely difficult places, God's heart remains full of love and his no
is never absent of purpose. Let me say that again. God's no is never absent of purpose. Instead, his no often protects, redirects, or prepares us for something greater. I'd wager you've heard Romans 828 more than you can count, but I want to ask you to pray for the grace to listen with different ears as I read it. And we know
that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Now what can we mine out of this if we slow it down a little bit? Well it starts with, and we know. What does it look like to know that you know this truth in your core? Knowing in this context of scripture isn't just intellectual, it's experiential.
and it's rooted in trust. We grow into this deep knowing through God's Word, prayer, and life experiences that reveal his faithfulness and stack up in the knowing column of our lives. We can't know the ways of God if we don't know God. So how can you know? Then we move to that in all things.
Now this phrase encompasses the entirety of life, not just the good things. Anybody can say God is good about the good things, but the knowing is also about the hard, the confusing and the painful things. When Paul says all things, he means, well, all things. Nothing is wasted in the economy of God. So after, we know that in all things, we come upon the two words,
God works. I don't know about you but I find it so comforting to know that God is not passive. He is actively at work in the details of our lives. When God says no it's an active no. Now I know that doesn't feel good to hear and frankly it doesn't feel good to me to say but hang with me. When God says no it's an active no
because there's a better yes to come. How do I know there's a better yes to come? Well, that's our next phrase. And we know that in all things, God works for the good. Now this good isn't always immediate or what we would define as good, but the prerequisite isn't that I think it's good, but that he knows it's good for me.
Think of all the times that a parent has to do something for their child that doesn't seem good to the child, but the parent knows is good. I cannot tell you the amount of setting of broken bones, shots, stitches, ambulance rides, and IVs there were between my three kiddos. Now they would not categorize those things as good at the time and in fact begged me not to do them.
But I knew what they didn't. That IV or those stitches were the thing they needed in order to be whole again. It was for their good. I think we often forget that we're the children in our relationship with God. We're not the boss. We're children of a loving father who knows what's best for us. And he says that he's always working for our good.
It's the kind of good that refines us, shapes our character, and conforms us to the likeness of Christ. But it doesn't mean that sometimes we don't beg Him not to do it. But we are those who love Him, as the next phrase says. This is an intimate relationship rooted in love and trust. Our response to God's sovereignty must be grounded in our love for Him, even when we don't understand. Why?
because we have been called according to his purpose. God's calling on our lives has eternal purpose. His nos and yeses are always working together to accomplish his bigger story for our lives and his kingdom. And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
So let's talk about those three primary reasons for the no's of God. First, there's God's no as protection. Sometimes God's no is his way of shielding us from what we cannot see. Just as a parent might say no to a child for their safety, God often says no to protect us from harm. Sure, there's the possibility of physical harm.
But what about emotional harm or the harm something could do to our character? Think about how Paul prayed for the thorn in his flesh to be removed in 2 Corinthians 12. But God said no. Why? He says that no was meant to keep him from becoming conceited and to remind him of his reliance on God's grace. That's what Paul said the no was for.
In those scriptures, Paul wrote these beautiful words, his grace is sufficient for me, for his power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weakness that the power of Christ may rest on me. His grace is sufficient for me. Jeff and I have had
very good opportunities come our way. And about 20 years ago, we had a really good opportunity come our way. We prayed about it. There was nothing wrong with it. All the numbers worked. The location was great. The opportunity felt really exciting. And we laid in bed one night with Jeff saying, we're supposed to say no. At the time, we could not understand why it ended up being a no from the Lord.
But shortly after we said no, everything with that organization flat out fell apart. The jobs we were going to take would likely not have even existed six months after we got there. Talk about suddenly being thankful for a no from the Lord. And what if Jeffrey hadn't obeyed that prompting? That no was protection for us. Now protection doesn't always look like what we'd expect.
Sometimes it means preventing us from a path that seems good but would lead to destruction in ways we can't comprehend. Like a shepherd using his staff to guide sheep away from a dangerous cliff, God lovingly closes doors even if it feels abrupt or painful. His know may protect your peace, your faith, or even your physical well-being.
Often what we think is rejection is actually a path away from danger. It takes hindsight to see the goodness in this, but his protection is woven into no. I wonder if you can recall a time when you realized later that God's no kept you from something harmful, that it was his protection. How was his grace sufficient for you in that season?
Secondly, beyond protection, there's God's know as redirection. God's know can be a way of steering us toward something better. Remember when David wanted to build the temple for the Lord in scripture? 1 Chronicles 28 tells us in verse 1 that David summoned all the officials of Israel to assemble at Jerusalem, the officers over the tribes, the commanders of the divisions and the service of the king,
the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and livestock belonging to the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the warriors, and all the brave fighting men. King David rose to his feet and said, listen to me, my fellow Israelites, my people. I had it in my heart to build a house as a place of rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord.
for the footstool of our God, and I made plans to build it. But God said to me, you are not to build a house for my name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood." I mean, David is the king, God's chosen king, a man after God's own heart, the Bible tells us. Building a temple for the Lord from a vision he had was a seemingly noble yes. But God said no.
because he had actually chosen Solomon for that task. David's role was to prepare, not build. Sometimes we're in the position of David called to set the stage, but not see the final product. Leaders, especially charismatic visionary leaders, be wary of assuming that just because you have the dream that it's actually God giving it to you to fulfill.
you might just be setting the stage for someone who comes behind you. I once had the opportunity to apply for a promotion at a job and I was so excited. I worked hard. I did my research. I got my ducks in a row. I made my case for why I would be the best person for that role. I kept being in consideration for it and then ultimately it didn't happen. It was really hard for me. I'm not going to lie.
Everyone thought I'd get it. I thought I would get it. Everyone told me I was the best person for it and truly it seemed like a done deal to me. But that is not what God had for me and that no truly was redirection. If I'd gotten that promotion it would have totally changed the trajectory my life was on and I would not be sitting here on this little mic talking to you.
I wasn't the one to say no in that case. The powers that be decided to give it to someone else. But that no from God was redirection for me. Redirection often feels like disappointment in the moment because it requires surrendering our plans for his greater purpose. But in this surrender that we make, we make room for something greater.
Think of how God's no to building the temple shifted David's focus to legacy. He gathered resources, he passed wisdom to Solomon, he laid the foundation for a work he would never see completed. In our lives, God may be redirecting us away from something we've held tightly to in order to move us into his greater story. What feels like a no today,
may set someone else up for their yes tomorrow. Maybe you've experienced this in your work or your ministry or your personal life. You set your heart on a dream only to be rerouted. It's hard but when we trust God's no we open ourselves to his better plan. So where is God redirecting you right now?
Is there a closed door that might actually be leading to something new if you have a different perspective on it? And lastly, let's talk about God's no not as protection or as redirection, but as preparation. And it can be all of these things at once. It can be protection and redirection and preparation, or maybe it's just one of these things in any given season. But God's no as preparation can be a call to
wait and be refined. Sometimes it's not a permanent no but a not yet. Joseph, for instance, after receiving dreams of leadership endured years of slavery and mistreatment and imprisonment before stepping into his God-given role. Now during that time, God was shaping his character for the immense responsibility that lay ahead of him.
Had Joseph been promoted to leadership right when he had that dream, he would have been insufferable. His shoulders were not broad enough or strong enough to carry the weight of leadership God had called him to at that young age. He needed the preparation of hardship, accusation, rejection, and being forgotten and overlooked in order to refine his character.
and strengthen his shoulders to be prepared to say authentically, what you intended for evil, God intended for good, for the saving of many lives.
Lastly, let's talk about God's no as preparation. God's no can also be a call to wait and be refined. Sometimes it's not a permanent no, but a not yet. Joseph, for instance, after receiving dreams of leadership, endured years of slavery and imprisonment before stepping into his God-given role. God had given Joseph the dreams.
and he still endured those years before stepping in to the actual reality of what he'd seen. During that time, God was shaping his character for the immense responsibility that lay ahead of him. Had Joseph been promoted to leadership right when he had the dreams, he would have been insufferable. His shoulders were not broad enough.
or strong enough to carry the weight of leadership God had called him to at that young age. Think about his carelessness in telling those dreams to his brothers. He needed the preparation of hardship, accusation, rejection, and being forgotten and overlooked in order to refine his character and strengthen his shoulders. He was then prepared to say authentically, what you intended for evil,
God intended for good for the saving of many lives. God's for Joseph was a no for now, not a no forever. And yours might not be either. Preparation is often the hardest form of no because it feels like inactivity, like everything has stalled out. Yet this season is anything but passive. It's where God chisels away pride.
builds resilience and strengthens our dependence on him. Joseph's story reminds us that preparation often includes trials that are meant to mature us so that we can steward the promise well when it arrives. What God denies us in one season is often his way of building within us what we'll need in the next. Trusting this process means believing that the waiting is part of the blessing. It's not a punishment.
If you're in a season of waiting after hearing no, take heart. God is not idle in your waiting. Remember, He's working. You're waiting, but He's working and He's shaping you for what's next. The no of God doesn't mean He's absent or uninvolved. It means He has a better story in mind.
This week, reflect on an area where you've been struggling with a no from the Lord. Ask God to show you how he's working in the wait, preparing you, redirecting you, or protecting you from harm.
Download this week's Sacred Choices Reflection Worksheet to help you process God's know in your life. This guide includes a section for prayer, a journaling prompt, and a space to list the ways you've seen God redirect, protect, and prepare you. I want you to remember that a know from God is not the end of the story, but it is a reminder that he's for you and his plans for you are good.
Trust him in the no and he will lead you into something beautiful. That's what he does. It's who he is. Thank you for joining me today. In the next episode, we're going to talk about small yeses that lead to big changes. Until then, know that your sacred choices are shaping you and God's love is woven into every yes and every no.
Look around you and remember to take stock of where you see God making everything beautiful, including you. I'll see you next time.