How to respond when God says "No"

When there is nobody and when we are able to be absolutely honest with ourselves before God, we entertain certain dreams and hopes. We really want by the end of our days to have _________________________ (fill in the blank). However, it may be that we will die with that unsatisfied desire. If this happens, it will be one of the most difficult things in the world for us to face and accept. David heard the Lord's "no" and silently accepted it without resentment. It is terribly difficult to do. But in David's last recorded words we find a life-size portrait of a man according to the heart of God.

After four decades of service in Israel, King David, old and perhaps bent over the years, sought for the last time the faces of his trusted followers. Many of them represented distinct memories in the old man's mind. Those who would carry on his legacy surrounded him, waiting to receive his last words of wisdom and education. What would the seventy year old king say?

It began with the passion of his heart, pulling back the curtain to reveal his deepest desire: dreams and plans for building a temple for the Lord (1 Chronicles 28: 2). It was a dream that was not realized in his life. "God said to me," David said to his people, "'You will not build a house for My name because you are a man of war and you have spilled blood'" (28: 3).

Dreams die hard. But in his parting words, David chose to focus on what God had allowed him to do: reign as king over Israel, establish his son Solomon over the kingdom and transmit the dream to him (28: 4-8). Then, in a beautiful prayer, an extemporaneous expression of adoration to the Lord God, David praised the greatness of God, thanking him for his many blessings, and then intercepted for the people of Israel and for his new king, Solomon. Take some extra time to read David's prayer slowly and thoughtfully. It is found in 1 Chronicles 29: 10-19.

Rather than wallowing in self-pity or bitterness about his unfulfilled dream, David praised God with a grateful heart. Praise leaves humanity out of the picture and focuses fully on the exaltation of the living God. The magnifying glass of praise always looks up.

“Blessed are you, O Lord, God of Israel, our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is greatness and power and glory, victory and majesty, indeed all that is in heaven and on earth; Yours is dominion, O Eternal, and you exalt yourself as head of everything. Both wealth and honor come from you, and you reign over everything, and in your hand there is power and power; and it's in your hand to make big and strengthen everyone. " (29: 10-12)

While David thought of the sumptuous grace of God who had given people one good thing after another, his praise then turned into thanksgiving. "Now then, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name" (29:13). David acknowledged that there was nothing special about his people. Their story was made of wandering and dwelling of tents; their lives were like moving shadows. However, thanks to the great goodness of God, they were able to provide everything that was needed to build God a temple (29: 14-16).

David was surrounded by unlimited wealth, yet all that wealth never captured his heart. He fought other battles inside but never greed. David was not held hostage by materialism. He said, in effect, "Lord, all we have is yours - all these wonderful elements we offer for your temple, the place where I live, the throne room - everything is yours, everything". For David, God possessed everything. Perhaps it was this attitude that allowed the monarch to face the "no" of God in his life: he was confident that God was in control and that God's plans were the best. David has kept everything freely.

Subsequently, David prayed for others. He intercepted for the people who had ruled for forty years, asking the Lord to remember their temple offerings and to draw their hearts to him (29: 17-18). David also prayed for Solomon: "give my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep your commandments, your testimonies and your statutes, and to make them all and to build the temple, for which I have provided" (29:19).

This magnificent prayer contained David's last recorded words; shortly thereafter he died "full of days, wealth and honor" (29:28). What an appropriate way to end a life! His death is an appropriate reminder that when a man of God dies, nothing of God dies.

Although some dreams remain unsatisfied, a man or woman of God can answer his "no" with praise, thanks and intercession ... because when a dream dies, none of God's purposes die.