What if I don’t like God’s answer?

“I experienced serious temptation today on my job.” my husband said to me. I sighed because this was not something I wanted to deal with.

“Yeah, why do you say that?”, I asked. Even though I wanted nothing more than to forget that he even brought up this conversation.

“Some ladies came to my job and they were dressed really sensually. They were basically dressed like they were on the beach and I was really tempted,” he explained.

Honestly, what I wanted to hear was, “You know babe I talked to some good-looking females today but all I could think about was you and how beautiful and amazing you are. They were not even tempting despite them being dressed like they were at the beach.”

I know that you are laughing at me because of my foolish thinking. My husband is human and he is not blind. Plus temptation will come to him all the time, however, I wish it didn’t. And I wish I didn’t have to hear the answers that he gives when it does come around.

One thing I am thankful for, however, is his honesty.

Now you may have laughed at me or shared my sentiments but how many of us don’t like the answers that God gives to our prayers?

What if I don’t like God’s answer? What do I do then? How do I honor him while being disappointed? Should I even be disappointed or should I be thankful?

A reader wrote a similar question into the search bar of this blog and I’ve been looking at it for some time now.

They asked, “How do I trust God when I don’t like the answer he gives to my prayers?”

And this is what I want us to look at today.

Check out my book on the fruit of the Spirit.

Contents

The Avenue of prayer

Prayer is a powerful weapon that has been given to the believer. It is the way that God has orchestrated for us to be able to communicate with him. When Jesus gave up his spirit and allowed himself to die (because God can’t die) something amazing happened.

In every temple, the veil that separated the holy of holies was torn in two, straight down the middle. Why is that so significant? Thanks for asking. The communication line was now open. Everyone was given direct access to the throne of God through Jesus Christ. That’s why the scripture says that there is one mediator between God and man.

Jesus opened the avenue of prayer, you can go to God at any time and place and lay your requests at the foot of his throne. This was made possible because Jesus gave up the ghost and he took that power from the priests of the earth.

There is no need to go to confession and let the priest tell God all about you; you can do it yourself.

The Life of Job

The first person that comes to my mind when I think about, “What if I don’t like God’s answer?” is Job.

While we all face difficult situations and trying times not many of us can say that we’ve ever experienced the level of suffering that Job experienced.

Do you think that Job prayed to God about his situation? Living in this world, we know that suffering is real but for a believing woman of God, the book of Job asks the question, “Why do those who live godly suffer?”

Some of us also wonder, why God seems so distant during that time.

But as we will see in the Book of Job, our finite human understanding really cannot question God. After all, who are we?

When Job’s life was touched and his wife cursed God and persuaded him to do the same, this was his reply.

He told her, “You’re talking like an empty-headed fool. We take the good days from God—why not also the bad days?” Not once through all this did Job sin. He said nothing against God. Job.2:10

Notice the middle part of the verse ladies, “We take the good days from God– why not also the bad days? And I think this is why we have a problem with the answers that God gives to us.

If God can provide us with good days, do we really expect to be exempt from the hard times? Are we saying, it’s OK for Susie or Mary to go through trying times because they are unbelievers but that shouldn’t be the case for us?

Look at our Savior, why did he have to suffer so you and I could go scotch free? If you are one who wonders, “what if I don’t like God’s answer?”, look at Job’s life.

If there is one thing to remember about the life of Job is that God doesn’t keep the believer from hard times and suffering. As a matter of fact, suffering is a necessary part of Christianity.

What if I don’t like God’s answer?

God is not a genie, he is your creator. Don’t expect him to give you everything you want just because you asked for it. Also, his timing is always perfect. When he chooses to give you a response, he is on time.

He made you and he knows you inside out. When you go before him and make a request, he already knows what you were going to ask for and he already knows what answer he is going to give.

In the case of Hezekiah, when he asked for 15 more years to be added to his life, God already knew that he would grant his request.

He didn’t change his mind because he makes no mistakes. (2 Kings.20:6)

Realize that when God gives you his answer it is for his glory and your benefit. It could be that you are not ready to receive what you’ve requested.

Maybe there is sin in your life that you have yet to repent of and God is not answering your prayer. He isn’t going to answer you because he has already told you that all you have to do is ask for forgiveness. God is holy and he refuses to deal with sin. (Psalms.66:18)

It could be that you prayed and your prayer was amiss, meaning that you asked but you lack faith. (James.4:3) You didn’t actually believe that you would get your request.

Whatever answer you received just know that God has your best interest at heart. He knows what you need before you need it. This doesn’t mean that you should stop praying. Pray until you receive confirmation of his answer. It could be yes, no, or wait. But don’t stop praying. God never sleeps or grows weary, his ears are always open to the request of his children.

Showing God that you don’t like his answer is very shaky ground to be on. Essentially you’re telling him that you know what’s best for you and you have to admit that you don’t.

So, what do you do when you don’t like God’s answer?

Listen, this is the time to praise God anyway? Huh? Yes, this is the time for you to acknowledge just how marvelous He is.

First of all, he has given you an answer.

Maybe he told you to:

Go to Africa and become a missionary
Adopt the foster child he has so impressed on your heart
Leave your fiancé because he isn’t the one he has for you
Give an extra 10% to a local charity or your church
You will be single for the rest of your life so you can dedicate yourself to Him
Let your spouse die in peace and stop holding on
Move somewhere that you don’t know anyone

You may not like the answer that he has impressed on your heart.

Despite the outcome he gave you an answer and you should rejoice and be glad because he isn’t finished with you yet. Turn on your favorite worship/ praise song and thank him for answering you.

Thank him for hearing your prayer and continue to pray and wait for him to answer because trust me, your Lord truly knows best.