We have all seen it. A child throws a temper tantrum when a parent refuses their request for a toy, candy or to ride their trike in the street. How does an adult respond to that type of display of manipulation? We normally attribute it to their age. So how do we respond when an adult expresses an adult version of manipulation because they do not get what they want at work, home, on the basketball court or from God?
When our request is rejected, do we withdraw, become passive resistant, pout, get angry and say things we regret, or pick up our tools (toys) and go home in a huff? I have not been too extreme, but I have felt the sting of tears and/or withdrawn for a time when God chose not to answer what I thought to be a fair and righteous request. At other times I imagined an excuse for God not answering and asked again a few days later.
Having made numerous personal sacrifices and done many miracles with God’s empowerment, in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, the infamous apostle Paul asked that God to remove a “thorn in [his] flesh”, a relatively small matter. What do you suspect Paul’s response was when God’s Spirit told him “No”? We do know he asked two more times receiving the same answer. God told him, …”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Instead of being offended he took the lemon and made lemonade. His words, Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. Have you tried that response when God said “No” to you?
Before Jesus was to be crucified, He offered prayers and pleading, with a loud cry and tears … and he was heard because of his reverent submission (Hebrew 5:7). Yet God did not give His very own Son what he wanted. How did Jesus respond? He continued His prayer saying yet not my will, but yours be done. Have you had the courage to pray that?
Some have said we should never pray that way after Jesus paid for our healing on the cross. We only need to pray in faith believing. Well, if that is true, Paul was out of line.
Our response to God’s answer of “No” reveals the level of faith we have in the God we say we love and trust. Real faith trusts in the love and wisdom of our Sovereign God who sees into the future which we cannot. He also knows all the desirable benefits for denying our request. For example, if He had answered Jesus’ request you and I would not have eternal life today!
Yes, we are told to persist in making our petitions known to God. However, that doesn’t imply we should arrogantly try to manipulate God into giving us what He knows is not best for His plan for others or ourselves. We cannot allow our circumstances, no matter how painful or seeming unrighteous they may appear, to affect our faith and trust in our God who created the stars and gave each of them a name. He has a much larger view of life and knows what is best for all concerned, including us. Our responses to God reveal to our world what authentic faith in God looks like. The faith of the three Hebrew young men still inspire us today because they proclaimed to the king, if our God does not deliver us [from the fiery furnace] it will not make the slightest difference, we will not worship another god—not even the desires or rationale of our flesh. [my translation] What are your responses to God telling others about your faith in God.
Well said!
How true that has been for me!
I have read your post 3 times in the last few days…….I would read absorb and read again on another day. So much “meat” in what you wrote! Worthy to be kept and read again and again. Thank you