Sometimes You Have to Say No...

Each morning, before I would go to the hospital to see Mama Bernice, I would pray for her healing.  That’s the normal and logical thing to do.  But one morning, the Lord spoke to my heart and showed me (yet again) that His ways are not our ways, nor His thoughts our thoughts.  What He said to me was pretty profound… and convicting.  Even though He wants us to be honest and bare our hearts to Him, He still has the last word.  He sees the Big Picture, while we see (and feel) what’s right in front of us.  He just wants us to trust Him and believe that His way is best, even when we don’t understand.  When we trust Him is when He gives us His peace.  And when we “let go,” we are free to receive His blessings.

The Lord gave me this poem that morning…

Sometimes You Have to Say No

When we come to You each day in prayer,

There is something we need to know:

Though we ask and believe with all our hearts,

Sometimes You have to say “no.”

It doesn't mean we’re not believing

Or we’re doubting what You can do.

It just means You see the “big picture”

Of what we are going through.

If we believe You’re all-powerful

And do miracles every day,

Then we have to believe You’re all-knowing

And trust You to show us YOUR way.

We may think that You’re not listening

To us as we desperately pray,

Or the faith that we have is just not enough

For You to answer OUR way.

It doesn't mean You don’t love us

Or that You don’t care what we’re going through.

It just means that You have a better plan

Than the plan that we've given to You.

Lord, help us to understand You

When You choose to tell us “no.”

And help us to trust that Your way is best,

Because from this Your blessings will flow.

Lisa Marea Hare Wimberly

August 9, 2011