Project LIVE LIFE

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. ‘” — Jeremiah 29:11.

You’ve prayed and prayed. You’ve worked really hard. You did your best. You know that after everything, you deserved it. That you would be really happy and honored and grateful when you get it. You’re really excited. Then you didn’t get it – then God said “no”.

I lost one of my grandmums to cancer. It was a typical day when I received a call from my parents telling me that she took a turn for the worse and her time might be near. She had been battling cancer for years then. I was away from home but I wanna see her for the last time so I book a flight back for the coming weekend, praying to God to give her atleast enough time so I could see her.

Two days later, while I was in the office in the middle of a workday, I received another call from my mum telling me that she’s gone.

I didn’t know what to feel or what to do that moment. I was in shock. I turn autopilot after I received that news. I got back to work cause I have nothing to do. I can’t go home yet. My flight is still in a few days. I survived that day feeling nothing. No tears, no nothing. It was like I was an empty shell. I was inside this bubble of unfeeling and numbness, away from anything and anyone, even my self. And honestly, I actually prefer feeling that way, cause I know the alternative is feeling the pain, the alternative is facing the reality.

I prayed to God for atleast a couple of days time for her so I could see her for the last time but He never answered. He didn’t give me what I asked for.

You probably have had some experiences of God saying “no” to you as well. Probably something even bigger, something even more significant. You probably felt disappointed, and hurt, and betrayed. I mean, you prayed for it and you did your best. You’ve put your trust in the Lord but He still said no. He still didn’t give it to you.

You see, honey, He never said that He’ll give us what we want, that He’ll give you what you want. He wants and gives what’s “best” for us.

Most of the time we get so caught up in what we desire, in what we want for ourselves, that we forget that what He has in store for us is bigger and brighter and a lot better than what we have in mind. Yes it would hurt now – probably a lot. You’re probably angry and disappointed at Him right now because He said no to you. Just go on and be disappointed and angry at Him. Yell out, cry your heart out, then let Him embrace you, let Him heal you. Let His plans and His ways unfold before your very eyes. Because you know what? He’s hurting a lot more when we are hurting, but He loves us soooo much that He’s willing to suffer for our good. That He’s wiling to be the bad guy in our eyes from time to time just so we could get the best from Him. Yup, plot twist, that’s how much He loves us, how much He loves you.

So yeah, He probably said no to you right now, and He probably will still say no to you in the future. But, honey, just remember that He promised the best for you. And He’s always been a Promise Keeper. He’s always been true to His Word. Plus He never fails. He’s never failed me yet. And I know He never will. So just trust Him thru the hurt and disappointment. He’ll always see you thru and will always always give you the very best.