As we keep living as Christians here on earth, there will be times where we desire something that God says no. That can be a devasting thought, knowing that God promises to give us the desires of our hearts. (Psalms 37:4). If we look at I Chronicles 17, we read how David wanted to build a temple for the Lord. That was a very noble thing that David wanted to do. It was his way of showing honor to God and thanking God for His goodness. David consulted Nathan the prophet who agreed that it was a good idea. However, God told Nathan in a dream that David was not to build a temple.
“But that same night God said to Nathan, Go and tell my servant, David, “This is what the LORD has declared: You are not the one to build a house for me to live in” (I Chronicles 17:4-5).
Then God tells Nathan what to say to David. “I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people Israel. And I will defeat all your enemies. “‘Furthermore, I declare that the LORD will build a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.” (I Chronicles 17:8-11).
In the midst of God telling David no, He told him all the things that He had done and was going to do for David. Here is David’s reaction. “Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and prayed, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And now, O God, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving your servant a lasting dynasty! You speak as though I were someone very great, O LORD God! “What more can I say to you about the way you have honored me? You know what your servant is really like. For the sake of your servant, O LORD, and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known. “O LORD, there is no one like you. We have never even heard of another God like you!” (I Chronicles 17:16-20).
Even though David did not get to build a temple for the Lord as he had hoped, God had a better plan for David. In a few chapters over, God reveals the reason why He did not want David to build the temple.
There may be a time when you hope for something that God says no. It is unthinkable, but it can and will happen. What will your reaction be? Unlike David, God may not give us the reason at that moment. We may have to wait for years or until we reach heaven to know the reason. But will we be like David and thank God for His goodness? Even though this one hope is no, how many other desires has God fulfilled in your life? Most likely countless. We have to rest in the fact that God is good and if we left Him to order our steps, He will never lead us wrong. In the no, He is leading us just like when he says yes. We must be willing to trust Him. He can see the future and what He has planned. Therefore, it makes this verse resonate so much more in our lives….
“That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” I Corinthians 2:9
