WHEN GOD SAYS NO 

40 DAYS OF PRAYER 

Pastor Sam   

4-27-25

“Call to me and I will answer you...”  Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) 

REASONS GOD SAYS ‘NO’

CAUTION: Use these to comfort yourself, but NEVER use them with someone in pain, because you don’t know why God said no to them.

• GOD SAYS ‘NO’:  

WHEN HE HAS A BIGGER PERSPECTIVE, A BETTER PLAN AND A GREATER PURPOSE 

“He knows about everyone everywhere. Everything about us is bare and wide open to the all-seeing eyes of our living God; nothing can be hidden from Him...”  Hebrews 4:13 (LB) 

God: “This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For My ways are higher than yours.”  Isaiah 55:8-9 (LB) 

“These were commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned SOMETHING BETTER...”  Hebrews 11:39-40 (NIV) 

The purpose of these troubles is to test your faith as fire tests how genuine gold is. Your faith is more precious than gold. 1 Peter 1:7 GW 

“These present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they will produce in us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So, we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”  2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT) 

WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN GOD SAYS ‘NO’? 

1. TRUST THAT GOD DOES EVERYTHING IN LOVE 

“All the ways of the Lord are loving...”  Psalm 25:10 (NIV) 
 

“In everything God works for the good of those who love Him.” Romans 8:28 (ICB) 

I DON’T HAVE TO UNDERSTAND GOD’S ANSWER TO KNOW IT’S MOTIVATED BY LOVE. 

2. WHEN IN PAIN, PRAY WHAT JESUS PRAYED FACING THE CROSS 

“Going a little farther, Jesus fell to the ground praying that, if possible, he might not have to suffer what was ahead of him. Jesus prayed ‘Abba! My Father! All things are possible for you! Please take this cup of suffering away from me! Yet I want your will, not mine, to be done!’”  Mark 14:35-36 

THE ATTITUDE OF PRAYER

• ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S POWER! 

• ASK WITH PASSION! 

• ACCEPT GOD’S PLAN & PURPOSE!    

3. EXPECT GOD’S GRACE TO HANDLE HIS ANSWER 

(Paul) “Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: ‘My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.’ So, I gladly boast about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power can flow through me! ...For when I am weak, then I am strong!”  2 Corinthians 12:8-10   

“Those who know you, Lord, will trust you! You do not abandon anyone who comes to you!”   

   Psalm 9:10 (TEV)