Dear friends,

Let's face it; everyone wants to feel in control of their lives. No one likes to be told that they can't have their way. Some people even choose to never take no as an answer. Everyone has disobeyed a parent or other authority figure at some point in their lives, but what do you do when God says "No"? What if everything you had your heart set on, God denies? Why would God do that? Why would He allow you to get your hopes up only to have them crushed when things fall through? Well, I want to be the first one to tell you, if you don't already know, its because He loves you! God is love. God does not do anything to intentionally harm us unless in the end he intends us to grow from the pain. In 1 John 4:16 the bible says, " And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them"(NIV). God is our saving grace, our father, our hope, our salvation, and our friend. God would not tell you "No" if your intentions lined up with his divine plan for your life. Sometimes "No" is a blessing. If God tells you "No", it's for your own protection. You may think you are invincible and have the power to control your life, but the truth is, you can't. The world we live in is evil and full of temptations that we as Christians do not need to be a part of. God saying "No" and throwing a storm at you may be the one thing that keeps you from saying "Yes" to the wrong things. We are nothing without the spiritual guidance of God. I use to try to run from God. I use to be that person who wouldn't take "No" for an answer. I thought I knew how my life would turn out in the end. I had it all planned out, until one day, life happened. What I thought was going to be my life suddenly wasn't an option anymore. I was hurt, angry, bitter, and confused. I became angry with God. I didn't understand why He let me walk so far down a path only to tell me "Sike! That's not where I want you to be." I realize now that in these times of emotion, the only person that truly understood how I felt was God. God was, and still is, helping me pick up the pieces. Sometimes God wrecks your plans so that you fit into the divine plan He has designed for you.

So what do you need to do next time God tells you "No"? Well, here are the three main things that have helped me:

1. Prayer.

God wants you to talk to him. God knows what you're going through. He knew it would happen way before you were even born. Talking to God and asking him for help is okay! The only way to fully communicate with God is by having intentional time with him. No matter if your happy, sad, confused, lonely, thankful, or just wanting someone to listen, God is ALWAYS one call away. He will never ignore you. We on earth are flawed. When we get angry, we lash out or ignore the person who let us down; God doesn't do that. We fail God daily, but there is nothing that will keep God from answering you. Ask God to give you strength and understanding during troubling times! Trust me, I know it hurts, but God knows that too. Christ felt it on the cross when he took on the world's sin, so that one day, you can feel peace. Prayer helps you just have to be willing to give up what you are going through and lean on God.

2. Trust.

In order to come to terms that God's plans are better than your own, you have to trust Him. Don't get angry at God for not getting your way, it just adds to the pain. When we get angry at God, we disconnect ourselves from the only one who understands how we feel. Being a person of anger leads to self-loathing and regret, not peace and forgiveness. In Jeremiah 29:11 the bible tells us, "For I know the plans ," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future "(NIV). So if you don't believe me, believe God. You just read that God knows what your life holds and that even the painful moments aren't meant to harm you but to give you a hope and a future. How awesome is it to know that no matter what you do, God knows how its gonna end? Even when we are hurting, we know it's only temporary and that even though our plans fail sometimes God's plans never fail. So if we put our trust fully in God then we no longer have a reason to be disappointed, because we know better things are ahead!

3. Let it go.

In the words of Elsa..."Let it go." Its time to realize that sometimes in order to get our full attention, God has to take things away. Toxic people, things, and situations keep us from giving God our full attention. God may take away a job that was keeping you from what He is calling you to do, a relationship that was taking place of where God should be in your life, or many other things ; but one thing is certain, it happened for a reason! It might not be because you did something wrong; it may just be that God sees that you deserve more, and He is just sticking up for you. God wants you to reach your full potential! The best thing you can do is let go of this pain holding you back. You were underappreciated at work... let it go. You were hurt by someone that you never thought would hurt you... let it go. Someone betrayed you... let it go. You thought this job was your calling.. God says it isn't. You thought this boyfriend or girlfriend was the one...God said that's not who I have picked out for you. You thought you had your life figured out... well God said you hadn't. He is the only one who knows how your life will end. So my encouragement to you guys is to just let it go. Don't let the pain of yesterday keep you from being who God intended you to be.

So in the end, I hope this article reaches someone who needs to hear it, because I know how tough it is to go though this season of life; I'm currently in it myself. Please, believe me when I tell you that it will be worth it. God telling us no is sometimes our biggest blessing. Though we may not see it at first, one day we will. So take courage because these emotions weighing you down now is only a tiny speck compared to the joy you will have when your life lines up with God's plans. Until then, ask God to give you courage and strength to accept what you cannot change and help lead you to the path of righteousness! You can do it!

Love, Morgan