When no means yes

Back in primary school, whenever we returned from school, we would change our clothes and play football.

There was, however, a hurdle to jump if our parents were at home. We had to seek permission. A “No” or “Yes” could make a world of difference.

My father was the difficult one. He was not predictable. Our hearts throbbed whenever we were approaching him for a favour. 

His answer hinged on his mood. A “No” from him did not surprise us much. We got an answer, but that was not enough of an answer for us.

Many often give up on prayers when they do not get the answers they desire. They assume their prayers were not answered after all. They forget that “No” is also an answer.

Though a hard one to take, we must admit that the answerer of all prayers knows when to say “Yes” or “No” to us.

In life, whenever we pray, we ought to remember that our expectation may not always become a reality. Despite having a goal in mind, God has the best at heart for us.

When He says “No”, it does not mean our prayers are unanswered. Yes, our prayers have been answered, but NOT according to our expectations.

“No” is as much an answer as “Yes”. Whenever the answer to our prayer is “No”, we should not assume God does not exist.

What we call an unanswered prayer is actually an answered one. It may look like a delay in the eyes of men. 

To God, however, there may be danger ahead that you are being delivered from. Sometimes, what we call rejection is what God calls deliverance. You were not rejected. You were delivered.

When some doors refuse to open, keep praying and trusting God. If every father wants the best for their children, God will not withhold from us what we truly deserve.

A closed door is sometimes a token of love from a loving father to His children. At least, He thinks they deserve better. Some doors are closed because there are better options ahead.  

“No” means wait. It means this is not the right time for your demands. Imagine a toddler demanding to drive your car. Your answer will be a

“No”, not because you hate them, but because you love them too much to see them hurt themselves and others. Saying “No” to them simply means the time is not right. That opportunity will be a curse, not a blessing.

Bad timing can make a beautiful blessing a curse. When a man is praying for money he is not capable of keeping, for instance, he will end up wasting not only the money but his life, too.

When a young woman is badly praying for what she has no capacity to handle, what is supposed to be a blessing will eventually be an albatross around her neck.

When we understand times and seasons, we accept our fate while still keeping our faith. A blessing born in the wrong season is no more a blessing. It is like a baby born in the first or second trimester. They are called preterm babies because they arrived at the wrong time!

Not all closed doors are engineered by the devil. God is the hand behind some of them. Some open jaws look like open doors from a distance.

Behind some closed doors are prisons God is preventing you from. In life, some fields look green but only from afar. As good and loving as He is, God has to barricade every route that leads to such a field.

Sometimes, what we call a closed door is a door that is closing an adversity in our lives. Men call it a closed door. God calls it a waiting door.

While waiting, He makes you miss that disaster you may have run into. While closed, He is busily closing every pit you may likely have fallen into. Thank God for closed doors!

Many have been saved by closed doors. Some of us are still alive today because we missed a flight. It looked like a closed door, but little did we know we were narrowly missing death.

Some are breathing today because they were sacked from their workplace. While cursing God at home, the building that their colleagues occupied collapsed.

One of the blessings you must consistently thank God for is a closed door. If you trust in God, what others call a closed door should mean something else to you. Doors close for a reason. You just do not know yet. Thank Him!

When a door shuts in your face, take a deep sigh and ask, “God, what would you have me do in this season?” Instead of throwing tantrums and dumping your faith, ask Him about your fate. Maybe that open door could have led to your premature death. If that wedding had happened, a disaster would have also happened. Thank Him, and move on.

Henceforth, look at closed doors from a new perspective. Do not call it a rejection letter. Call it a waiting letter. It is just not your time yet.

When a (wo)man walks out of your life, do not say you have been jilted. You did not lose them. They lost you!

Take time to thank God for the closed doors in your life. Thank Him for the relationship that did not work. It may have led to divorce if it did.

Thank Him for the divorce that happened. It may have led to your death if it didn’t.

When we mature to understand that a “No” means “Yes”, we will better understand why the Bible admonishes us to be thankful always.

All the closed doors will make sense one day. The past is best understood when looked at from the point of view of the future.

Lord, I thank you for the doors you closed in my life. Forgive me if I ever complained about them. Little did I know what you were preparing for me.

What others called a closed door made me better. It made me mature. It taught me how to maximise the available opportunities, no matter how little. I had to lead by serving. And above all, that closed door may be the reason I am drinking from the well of life today.

The writer is the Chief Scribe of Scribe Productions (www.scribeproductions.com) and Scribe Communications (www.scribecommltd.com).