Now, while God does indeed hear our prayers, we may not always be pleased with His answer.

The reality is that we find ourselves praying for a variety of things.

In our limited human wisdom, they may seem very important in the moment. But sometimes, that’s not actually the case.

God may have something even better or more fruitful waiting in the wings, and we just need to trust in his “no” and trust that His plan will come to fruition soon enough.

There are three different overarching responses we will hear from God, and we must be quick to embrace each one of them and trust Him in His wisdom when they come.

Yes!

In the book of 1 Samuel, we encounter Hannah, a godly woman who desperately longs for a child.

She was not able to conceive, and it broke her heart.

She prayed night and day for a child, and God heard her prayer. He blessed her with a child, as it aligned with His will for her life.

In John 14:13, Jesus says, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Just like Hannah, if we pray for something that is in God’s plan for us, we can rest assured that it will come to pass.

Nothing happens outside of God’s will, as taught to us in Romans 8:28, which reads, “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”

No.

In John 11, Jesus receives word that his close friend Lazarus is very sick, to the point of death.

His sisters, Mary and Martha, ask for Jesus to come and bring healing to Lazarus.

But Jesus doesn’t rush there, and Lazarus ends up dying.

Why would Jesus deny their prayer request of healing, especially for someone who was a close and dear friend of His?

We don’t like hearing “no,” but at the same time, we can trust God’s decisions because He is all-knowing and able to see the entire timeline of events of our lives at once.

He sees the whole picture while we see but a glimpse of it.

That’s why Proverbs 3:5 teaches us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”

So, what becomes of Jesus’ “no” to helping Lazarus?

Something even more miraculous happened, something that we can only assume brought countless people to faith.

Jesus did indeed come to see Mary and Martha, but what He accomplished is something no one could imagine.

He had bigger plans for Lazarus than simply healing His illness.

Jesus came and raised Lazarus from the dead, restoring his life to him and allowing him the honor of being a witness to the Lord’s power in ways no one else ever could.

That’s why we must trust that when God says “no,” He has something even better planned for us.

At a Later Time

Sometimes God’s answer is not a simple yes or no, but rather “at a later time.” Patience is important as a believer as it shows our faith in God.

Romans 8:25 says, “But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.”

We can have confidence while we wait, knowing that God will always work for us and not against us. He has a perfect plan for our lives, and He will ensure that plan comes to pass.

In Jeremiah 29:11, God says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

God is our loving Father in heaven, and He will always provide and care for us.

Conclusion:

While waiting for an answer can be challenging, we can rest assured that God does in fact answer our prayers.

The time spent waiting can cause anxiousness in our hearts. But the Bible encourages us to give our worries to God and to trust in His perfect plan.

Philippians 4:6 reads, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”

God does hear your prayers and will answer you, all you have to do is trust in Him and be patient.