And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.  And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV)

“No, Joshua, NO!… ”

I instantly blush once my son decides to attack another child because he doesn’t get his way.  I run immediately to him and stop the wrestling match that he could potentially start.  Just the other day as we were waiting for his swimming class to begin, an older girl was taunting him and she wouldn’t let him inside a play-house, but I quickly learned that my 18 month old is well capable to defend himself.  He smacked this girl right on her head and started scratching her face only to prove to her and everyone watching that he can fight for what he wants.  After removing him from the scene as to not cause any drama, he starts to scream “mommy, MOMMY” to communicate that he’s not done playing.  Someday I know I will have to face the wrath of a mommy for how my boy chooses to behave towards her child, but I wake up every morning hoping that today won’t be that day.

It doesn’t matter how big of a temper tantrum he throws, but when mommy and/or daddy say no, it means NO!

There’s currently not a lot of communication between us, except when he gets really frustrated and I’m not able to comprehend what he’s trying to say in his gibberish baby language.  Just today, I left the doctor’s office feeling a bit defeated and responsible for my baby boy’s lack of communication and development.  I’m sure most moms have been through this, but there’s nothing like being told that our children must go through an hearing and development evaluation to see if they are growing as they should at their age group.

It’s like the doctor could all of the sudden listen to all my insecurities in the privacy of my mind,

“Was I intentional enough with him?”

“Could I have taught him more?”

“Am I a good mother?,”

because she kept reassuring me that it isn’t my fault Joshua isn’t communicating with me and she reminded me of how common this actually is.  Additionally, she gave me her own opinion and she wholeheartedly believes nothing is wrong with his development, but she wants to follow procedure when a child doesn’t respond to certain commands, which Joshua has failed to do.

As I drove home with anxious thoughts, I felt the Holy Spirit reminding me of how in my own walk with the Lord, I’ve had to learn to pray to Him and how often the Spirit has had to intercede for me.  In the beginning of my Christian life, I am certain I must have sounded like a baby when I chose to pray.  It wasn’t just the infancy of my faith and the laughable requests I may have made, but to be honest, I rarely actually prayed because I figured God could get inside of my head and figure it all out anyway.

Why pray?

But, why should Joshua talk?  I’m his mother and will love him no matter what, right?

Communication is one of the most important foundations in the formation of human relationships and prayer is the only way to reach our Heavenly Father’s heart.  Our prayer life progresses the further we walk with the Lord and it is perfected through practice.

As I grew in my faith, there was a deep concern I had about prayer.  I simply didn’t want to be rejected or be told NO.  Oftentimes, we don’t pray as much as we should because we don’t want to be told no. I blame it on my perfectionism because I want to be told how good I am and I simply want my reward for it!

Recently, I’ve had to submit to the Lord in prayer and ask about a couple of job offers I’ve received.  Although I had made the decision to stay home, I still asked God what He thought in hopes He would change His mind.  It’s been a difficult season at the Velsor household as we’ve had to learn to live below our means since I had to resign from my job this past summer.  It wasn’t planned nor expected, but we do believe it was God’s desire and His design for me to stay home with Joshua at this time.  We’ve experienced several financial emergencies in the last four months such as home repairs, new car batteries and tires, a dental implant, unexpected doctor visits, etc, of which have made us doubt our decision.  Sometimes, we laugh at how we’ve spent more money now, under one income, than when I worked and we had that extra cushion.  But soon the laughter turns into tears of surrender and faith to obedience.  Although I know what the Lord is going to say, I continue to pray and seek constant reassurance of His promises.

In 1 Chronicles 28, an older David addresses the assembly for the last time as King to inform them about his desire to build a temple for God, but…

David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it,  but God said to me, ‘You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’  “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever… he chose Solomon to succeed me on the throne of Israel and to rule over the Lord’s kingdom. 

He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father.  And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’

1 Chronicles 28:2-7

David did not expect God to say no.  If you read verse 2, please notice he had made the preparations to build the temple himself.  When God expressed to him the desire to have Solomon build it instead of him, we encounter David’s maturity in his humble reaction. Particularly, David has taught us three ways in how we should respond when God tells us no… and throwing temper tantrums isn’t one of them!

1. David focused on the promises God had faithfully kept and the ones that He is about to keep.  God called David to rule Israel, but He also revealed His desire to carry on with the family’s legacy through his son Solomon.  David could have easily dwelt on what he didn’t personally attain, but he was thankful for what God did allow him to do– be King of the Promised Nation– despite knowing he didn’t deserve such honor.
2. David was not only gracious in accepting God’s rejection, but he was generous in sharing his original plans with Solomon.  From verse 11 through 19, we are told in great detail how David was going to build the temple.  Our human nature is inclined to feel jealousy and resentment towards the person who gets to live out our hopes and dreams, but David was selfless and he also proved he cared more about the work of God being fulfilled rather than who would assist to getting it accomplished.
3. Finally, David encouraged Solomon “to be strong and courageous” and to do the work without getting fearful and discouraged.  Before his death in the next chapter, David praises God and happily relinquishes his kingship to Solomon.  He wants his son to be confident in God’s work in his life and hopes he is wholeheartedly obedient and submissive to the Lord’s commandments.  Like a father to a son, he is hopeful that Solomon will learn from his mistakes and he will obtain the wisdom to walk a path of righteousness.

Just because God says no to us doesn’t mean His work will not get done.  In our selfishness, we want to make it only about us, but in the Kingdom of Heaven there is room for everyone to offer their talents to bring God the glory and the praise He ultimately deserves.  When we are told no, we either cater to our pride or our innermost insecurities because we believe we’ve been told that we are not good enough.  But in reality, He’s claimed us His prize because we are worthy in His eyes and we are worth it enough to have His Son save us from damnation.  Since He is our Creator, He can also gift us the ability to do anything in His name because “He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” but we are also reminded where the glory goes, “to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Like David, praise Him and thank Him because we are each created with a unique purpose to serve Him.  Although our dreams may be crushed when we are told no, we serve a God who will never crush us. (2 Corinthians 4:8)  Not only will He enlighten us with his promises, but if He can use an 18 month old to open his mommy’s eyes, then He can definitely use each of us to fulfill His work…

Together as His body!

Our Heavenly Father,

We praise You for your creativity and diversity in the body of Christ.  Thank You for claiming us and calling us Your children and for allowing us be part of Your masterful plan, though we don’t deserve such honor.  Let us see the bigger picture without getting stuck in the insignificant details and help us be better cheerleaders when our brothers and sisters succeed to bring You all the glory.  Remind us that the works we do in Your name are to bring You glory and not for us to show others how good we are.  Forgive us for our childish reactions when we feel like You don’t answer or when You’ve clearly shut a door.  Your rejection is simply a redirection of our steps, then guide us to the next door You want us to attempt to open… You hold the key!

We love you Lord and we want to serve YOU.

In Your Name,

Amen!