When God Says No

It is important to teach our kids to pray. However, God may answer them differently than they expect. Their goldfish might die. Their friend could move away. Grandma may not get better.

So, how do you explain that to a child who believes God can do anything?

You simply tell your kids the truth: that God always answers prayer. Sometimes He says yes. Sometimes He says no. Sometimes He says wait. And that all three answers come from love.

When your child prays fervently for something that you’re certain will not happen, everything in you might want to spare them the disappointment. But that wouldn’t be faith—that would be false hope.

Instead, pray with your child. Talk to them about God’s wisdom. Let them know that sometimes the best gift is the one that God doesn’t give us. Help them understand God sees what we can’t see, and that God knows what we don’t know.

Establish in their hearts that when God says “no”, that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care. So when their prayer doesn’t get answered the way they wanted it to, they may be sad, but they won’t be crushed because you already helped them establish that God's "no" doesn't mean God doesn't care.

Don't shield your children from disappointment in prayer. Teach them to trust God through it. The faith that survives is the faith that's been tested.

A God who only says yes isn't a Father. He's a genie. And we don't worship genies. We worship a sovereign God who loves us enough to sometimes tell us no.