Latest / Arise Women of God / What to Do When God Says No
Transcript
- 0:00Oh, my friend, you've knelt until your knees are sore.
- 0:03You've pleaded, you fasted, and you've exercised every ounce of faith you have, asking for a specific miracle.
- 0:11And then the answer came back.
- 0:13It wasn't a wait and it wasn't a yes.
- 0:15It was a clear cut no.
- 0:18And you find yourself asking what to do when God says no?
- 0:22Because that no feels like a rejection of your heart.
- 0:25Well, my friend, I have felt that before.
- 0:28And it is hard and it is heavy, but you're in the right place.
- 0:31By the end of today's episode, you'll understand how to transition from the bitterness of a closed door to the peace of a new path.
- 0:39We're going to help you solve spiritual heartbreak by looking at the Savior's pattern that he taught us in Gethsemane and sharing a powerful story of a no on a deathbed that actually mended a broken family.
- 0:52We moving from carrying the load alone to carrying it with Christ.
- 0:58Stay tuned.
- 1:00Ordinary women, extraordinary faith.
- 1:04When God calls, we say yes.
- 1:09Hello and welcome to another episode of the Arise Women of God podcast.
- 1:14I'm your host, Tamara K.
- 1:16Andersen.
- 1:16And joining me today is the amazing and talented Bonnie Randall.
- 1:21And you are going to love it as we get raw and vulner today talking about the hardest answers to receive from heaven.
- 1:30And I'm already getting a little teary eyed, so this is going to be a crazy episode.
- 1:34When we face a no, our first instinct is to pull away.
- 1:38But the Savior showed us a different way.
- 1:41In Matthew, chapter 26, verse 39, we can be with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane where he asks with the weight of the world on his shoulders, if his Father will let them this cup pass from him.
- 1:54It was heavy.
- 1:56It was hard.
- 1:57Harder than he probably even ever imagined it could be.
- 2:00He didn't want to carry that weight and pain.
- 2:03And yet he uttered these next words that are such a powerful example for us.
- 2:09Not as I will, but as thou wilt.
- 2:12Ooh, such an example of submission.
- 2:14This is what I want.
- 2:15But what is what you want?
- 2:18What is for the greater good?
- 2:19Sometimes the cross in our lives is necessary for a glory.
- 2:24Can't yet see Jesus drank that bitter cup so that we wouldn't have to drink ours alone.
- 2:31When God says, no, he is not leaving you, he is inviting you to be yoked with him.
- 2:38I love the verses in Matthew where Jesus promises that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.
- 2:45But notice that it doesn't say that there is no burden.
- 2:48The no you have received Might feel really heavy.
- 2:53It might be a broken heart, a lost opportunity, or the death of someone you love.
- 2:58Your choice in this moment is to carry that burden alone or to strap yourself to the yoke of the Savior.
- 3:05Because when we carry it with him, he carries the brunt of the weight.
- 3:09If you're still struggling to accept the no answer, it is okay to say, lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.
- 3:18I know because I've been there.
- 3:19It's okay to ask for God to plant the desire, the seed of belief in your heart that life can move on and you can move forward, Although it may feel very heavy and hard at the time.
- 3:33Bonnie is now going to share a story about a time when she was pleading for a yes, but God halted her mid prayer.
- 3:43I can't even tell you how many times God has told me no.
- 3:47One time when I received a no, it was so sad.
- 3:53My grandfather was on his deathbed.
- 3:56I had gone to visit him, and he was dying of cancer.
- 4:00He had several different types of cancer, and the doctors wanted to try different things.
- 4:07And I remember one night kneeling down and praying and pleading and begging for him to extend my grandfather's life.
- 4:18But as I went to say those words, I was halted.
- 4:24And I heard, no, that is not his plan.
- 4:31It is his time to go.
- 4:33Do not say those words.
- 4:36And I started weeping.
- 4:38Because I love my grandfather.
- 4:40I wanted to spend more time with him, but I said, okay, what am I supposed to pray instead?
- 4:48And he said, pray for peace.
- 4:51Pray that your grandmother will be ready for him to transition.
- 4:55Pray that his transition will be easy and smooth and joyful, and that he will be at peace.
- 5:03And so I started praying the words that he would have me pray.
- 5:08And I saw a miracle happen.
- 5:10My grandfather didn't live, but my grandmother started to be okay with the fact that he was going to be gone.
- 5:20My aunt started to be okay with the fact that my grandfather was going to be gone.
- 5:27I started to see my family heal.
- 5:30Rifts that had happened in our family started to be mended, all because God told me no.
- 5:39And then he told me what to say instead.
- 5:43Oh.
- 5:43Bonnie's heartfelt story tugs at my soul, but it also shows us that a no to our request is often a yes to a much larger miracle.
- 5:56She had to stop asking what she wanted and start asking, what should I pray for instead?
- 6:02That is how we unlock the blessings hidden in the hardship.
- 6:08So, friends, I know with a surety that when we get a no or not right now, it's because there are miracles and there are blessings that he is just waiting to give you.
- 6:25And if you can clue into asking the right question, you will receive exactly what you need to say during that prayer to unlock and unleash those miracles into the world.
- 6:41So my friend, if you are standing before a closed door today, don't walk away from God.
- 6:48Walk with Him.
- 6:50Use the Savior's words, not my will, but thine be done.
- 6:54Then ask, Lord, what would you have me pray for instead?
- 6:58I promise he will take your broken heart and plant a seed that you can and will heal and be able to move forward in faith.
- 7:07To help you navigate those difficult no answers and find your footing again, we want to give you our free Roadmap to Revelation 6 Steps to Hearing God in your daily life.
- 7:19You will also get a Receiving Light and Revelation audio meditation that you can also download for free by clicking the link below.
- 7:29When the no feels like static to your soul, I invite you to turn to page 6 of this downloadable PDF and use the Cast out the Adversary prayer.
- 7:39It will help you bind and cast out those fearings of abandonment and anger and bring in light and peace and love and joy so that you can clearly hear the instructions God has for you to do next.
- 7:54So my friend, God hasn't stopped talking, he's just pointing you in a different direction.
- 7:59Go listen for what is next and trust where he leads.
- 8:04And until next time, may you arise.
- 8:07Do it God's way.
- 8:08God Strong if today's episode helped you feel a little closer to God, please like and subscribe.
- 8:16It helps us grow and ensures Heaven's whispers stay at the top of your feed whenever you need them most.