What If God Says NO?

One year ago today, she got the call
That stopped her life
And ever since that moment,
He prayed God would heal his wife
She got weaker by the minute
In that hospital bed
And she could see that he was mad at
God, so she took his hand and said

Chorus
What if God says no
It don’t mean He loves us less
It just means He knows what’s best
What if God says no
It’s enough we have His grace
So don’t let go of your faith
What if God says no

Just south of Atlanta,
It’s been slow out on his job
But now he’s lovin on his family
And has time to talk to God
He’s prayin that a miracle
Will turn his business back around
But what if God gives him the answer
That His grace is good for now

Jesus prayed on the last night
Before He was crucified
And said, “Dad if there’s another way,
Could you let this pass me by?”
But God saw the big picture,
That it had to be done
So as much as it hurt,
He couldn’t say yes to His Son

“I just listened to the song What If God Said NO?...” said my husband. "One line of the song talks about how Jesus asks His father to take it all away, but God couldn’t … He had to say no … God saw the bigger picture and said no. I’d ever thought of it that way before. The fact that God could’ve said yes to Jesus … but it would’ve cost us all.” My husband just sat there with a look of wonder on his face. And I, like him, began wondering about the times that God said “No.” … the times that God said “No.” throughout the Bible … the times that God has said “No.” since Jesus rose again; the Crusades … the holocaust … the plagues … the times that God has said “No.” in my life …

In the week leading up to Passover, Jesus continually tells them that He’s leaving, that He’s going soon to be with the Father. And the emphasis seems to be on the reunion with His Father and on encouraging His disciples that it will be for the best. And John 17 is the culminating prayer:

“Father, the hour has come … Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent … And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began … I will remain in the world no longer … “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one … “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world …”

It got me to thinking that it’s easier to think about the end than it is to think about how you’re going to get there. Isn’t that why kids sit in the back of the car and ask “Are we there yet?” and “How much longer?” and “Why … ?” But when the time comes … it’s just hard to enjoy the ride … it’s just hard to wait until it’s over … it’s just hard.

In the garden of Gethsemane (when His life is about to get squeezed out of Him) Jesus prays “Please take this cup from Me … nevertheless, not My will but Thy will be done.” Even while He’s thinking about the up-coming pain … He decides to do what God has told Him to do.

And after it’s all over He reminds his disciples of “Why … ?”

Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24: 45-49

And what good did it do?

Do not the books of Acts through Revelation record how His message is proclaimed throughout the whole world?

What good did it do?

Is not your very life a record of His great love towards you?

What good did it do?

Do not His last recorded words in Revelation 22:20 say?

“Yes, I am coming soon!”

If God says “NO.”

we can be sure that it is because

He is going to give us a glorious “YES!”