Finding the Light in God's "No!"Sample

DAY 1

STRUGGLE

We all have prayed, asking God for something, but when the answer isn’t a “yes,” we start to feel defeated and distant from God. Sometimes we feel as though He isn’t listening or simply doesn’t care about us.

Welcome to this week’s 3 Minutes A Day Series as we discuss God’s “No!” His “No!” is almost always difficult to accept because it usually does not align well with our life plans.

This week we will learn God even said “No!” to Jesus. As we begin studying our Scripture in Luke 22:39-46, I want to remind us where we are in the great Story of Redemption.

At this point in Jesus’ life, He had performed countless miracles, taught God’s message with authority to thousands of people, and had a strong group of twelve followers helping with His mission.

However, we are now looking at Jesus’ life right before He was crucified on the cross. Jesus had known throughout the years He would be killed for the sins of the earth. Right before our study for the week, we see Jesus foretelling that Peter will deny Him three times before the rooster crows. He also knew which one of His disciples would betray him and shared the news with His followers.

We begin our Scripture study this week right before Jesus is captured by the enemy, and He is emotionally struggling with knowing His future. The task He was supposed to complete became too hard for Him to handle.

As we close today, I want you to think of all those prayers in which you have asked God for something. Has God’s answer ever been “No!” Has His “No!” ever brought you feelings of defeat? Or, have you ever walked away from God and become distant from Him because you feel He has said “No!” too many times?

Life sometimes will turn upside down because of the “No!” It can be hard moving on when God answers our prayers in a way that doesn’t fit our plans.

I look forward to studying with you as we meet tomorrow. We will begin to look at Jesus in prayer while He struggles with the life He has been given.

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