Sometimes the Answer is No
I had been praying for my dad to get better because he had cancer, but a few months ago he passed away. Why didn't God answer my prayer?
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Losing a loved one is always a hard thing to go through, so I want to deal with this topic very delicately but very honestly. I too, have lost family members as well as many friends who were in their teens and early 20's. Many times when a loved one is sick and possibly in the hospital, we look towards the doctors for answers, but sometimes there is nothing that can be done. Then we pray to God for healing. I believe that prayer is very important. Philippians 4:6-7 says,
"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
Clearly, the Bible says to pray about everything. I think what most overlook in this verse is that it doesn't say that he will do exactly what you want him to do. It says
"...you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand."
I think sometimes we just expect God to "solve" our problems the way we want him to. However, God's plans are much larger than our comprehension. Isaiah 55:9 says,
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.
I think God is saying his plans are so astronomically incomprehensible by our human minds. One of my favorite verses in the bible is actually Job 38:4
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
So Job is going through some tough times...Some really really tough times. In one day he lost everything but his wife and his life. He lost his children, he lost his wealth, and shortly after that, he lost his health. Even in all that, God is saying, "Hey! I'm GOD! I created the universe! DO NOT QUESTION ME!"
The reason I like this verse is because GOD is letting us know he's got it. It like a wake up call. Its like in the movies when someone gives a firm slap when the other person is freaking out. "SNAP OUT OF IT!"
We can be confident that God has our best interest in mind. Jeremiah 29:11 says,
For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
I know what you are thinking though...OK OK God has our back, and he knows best, and he has good planned for us, but how can death be good?! Now, like every other person on this earth, I don't know everything, so I can't really tell you every detail of God's plan and how death fits into it in each particular scenario. Consider this though. What if God's answer to our prayer for the sick relative is answered by taking away the sickness by bring him or her home to Jesus in heaven. Maybe God answered the prayer in a different way than we expected.
Next, I'd like to consider this. Sometimes the answer is "No." No one likes to be told "No." I certainly don't! However, like I said earlier, the Bible never says that God will do everything we ask him; it just says we will experience peace. In fact, there are some instances in the Bible where God says "No" to a prayer request.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 reads,
even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
On this occasion God is saying "No" to his prayer. Even though he doesn't have to, God gave Paul an explanation of his response. Ultimately, it was intended to benefit Paul. It was to allow Paul to let Christ work through him.
I think the most intense occasion when God's answer is no is found in Mark 14:35-36.
And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will."
Here Jesus knows he is about to experience physical death and even worse, a spiritual death and separation from God. He is asking God to take this away if possible. Again, God's answer was no. I'm glad his answer was no, though. If he had said yes, all hope for mankind would have been lost. The penalty for sin wouldn't have been payed had God not said "no" to Jesus. How incredible! The best answer to a prayer in the Bible was no! If you have more questions about how Jesus paid the price for our sins, check out the "What must I do to be saved" section.
I am confident that God answers prayers. I know this from experience. Sometimes, however, the answer is "No." We have to have faith and confidence that God's answer is for our benefit, whether his answer is "Yes" , "No", or "Wait."
