Praising God When The Answer Is “No”
BRD REFLECTION 2026
1 Corinthians 9:15-27 and Psalm 18:25-36 (NIV)
(Cynthia Ko from LCEC)
READ:
Psalm 18:25-36 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
In this Psalm, David is praising God out of deep personal experience. He describes how God deals with people according to their heart: to the faithful, God shows Himself faithful; to the pure, He shows Himself pure. David recognizes that it is God who arms him with strength, makes his way blameless, and enables him to run, fight, and stand on secure ground. David doesn’t speak about God in theory—he speaks as someone who has walked with God through danger, distress, and battle, and has seen God’s character proven again and again.
APPLY:
I realize that I don’t always pause to truly praise God from the depths of my heart. I may sing in church or say the usual opening lines in prayer, but that is not the same as heartfelt praise that overflows when God delivers me, comforts me, or amazes me with who He is.
What great faith David had! Never once did He doubt the goodness of God. Even when his firstborn son with Bathsheba died, he did not curse God or deviate from God. It must have been the most painful “No” to his prayers and entreaties, when his son died. Yet, he never lost faith in God.
It makes me wonder how I might respond when God’s answer to my prayer is “no” or “not yet”?
- Do I become disillusioned and quietly pull away from Him?
- Or do I rest in the truth that His plans are better than mine and His ways are higher than my ways—even when I don’t understand?
My reaction to God’s “no” reveals what I really believe about His goodness. I want a faith that still says, “God is good,” not only when I receive what I want, but also when I don’t.
DO:
- Be more disciplined in memorising Scripture, so that when things do not seem to go my way, God’s Word can come to mind and anchor my heart.
- Be more consistent in journalling, so I can remember specific moments of God’s faithfulness.
PRAY:
Dear Lord Father, grant me a childlike faith to trust You even in the most difficult situations. Thank You for being good, even when I am not, and for being faithful, even when I do not understand what You are doing. Help me to trust You when Your answer is “no” or “not yet”, believing that You are for me. Teach me to praise You from the depths of my heart, not just out of habit, but out of real gratitude and trust. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
