It has often been said that God only has three answers to our prayers: "yes, no, or wait." While receiving a big "NO" from the Lord might not feel good, we will do well to thank Him for it just the same – simply because He knows what He's doing.

A Gracious Denial

There are times in our lives when we pray to God and give Him our petitions and requests, and then receive no favourable reply from Him. When these events happen, we sometimes react like children denied of that sweet candy that we've always wanted to eat, or that delicious chocolate bar that we've wanted to munch on.

While our disappointment is quite understandable, what we must understand is that God does what is best for His children, His beloved people. After all, He is a good Father.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Here are some reasons why we should be grateful for God's denial of our requests.

1. He Has A Better Plan In Mind

At times we think that we know what's best for us, but in all humility we must realise that God knows better. He knows what makes us happy, what satisfies us, and what makes us fulfilled, more than we'll ever know.

Psalm 139:16-17 in the New Living Translation says, "You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!"

2. His Denial Spares Us From Unnecessary Trouble And Moulds Us Into Christ-Likeness

James 4:3 tells us, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." It is very likely that God will slap us with a loud "NO" when we are asking something out of a selfish, sinful, or proud desire. God does this for several reasons.

First, if God says "yes"' to a wrong and sinful desire, that won't bring us to holiness, and won't spare us from the trouble that we might cause upon ourselves. Second, it's not God's character to support our wrong desires. His commitment is to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (see 1 John 1:9), and mould us into the character of Christ (see Romans 8:28-30).

Simply put, God's refusal or denial of our requests is done in love for us. He is love, after all.

Thank Him For His Denials In Your Life

Friends, let's thank God for His denials in our lives. He denies our requests because He loves us, is committed to mould us into Christ's character, wants the best for us, and wants to spare us from sin and the trouble we might cause upon ourselves.