Listen When He Says “no”

instruction - Listen When He Says “No”

Let the little children come to me . . . for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Matthew 19:14, NIV

On several occasions throughout Scripture, Christ calls us to become like little children. In fact, in this passage in Matthew, He tells us that our ability to enter the kingdom of heaven depends upon our childlike trust in God.

I (Teresa) have realized that it’s important for me to have the faith of a child, but not all of the “childlike” characteristics. You see, when it comes to receiving instruction, I’ve sometimes behaved like a toddler. When our son, Eric, was about two years old, he would absolutely lose control if you told him “no.” It didn’t matter if you were pulling him out of a dangerous situation or setting a limit on the amount of candy he ate—Eric hated to be told he couldn’t do something.

I know there have been times when I’ve acted much the same way Eric acted as a toddler. When God told me it wasn’t the right time to leave a very unhealthy church situation, I became enraged and was angry with God for a long time. When David hasn’t agreed with my preferences on spending money or with my timing for big purchases, I’ve become irritated.

If I carefully consider why God tells me “no,” I will respond with much more gratitude. God has shown me that if He tells me “no” or “not now,” it’s because He loves me and wants the best for me. When I had to pull Eric out of dangerous situations or limit his candy consumption, I did it because I loved him and didn’t want to see him hurt. God’s love is just like that.

For that reason, I need to listen when He says “no.”

In what situations might God be telling you “no” right now? How does He use your spouse to communicate His “no” answer?