When God Says “No” (Even After Someone Else Says “Yes”)

By Danny Saavedra

“After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, ‘Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.’ Nathan replied to the king, ‘Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.’ But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying: ‘Go and tell my servant David, “This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’”’”—2 Samuel 7:1–7 (NIV)

There’s a classic Full House episode where Michelle is being bullied at preschool by a classmate named Aaron, who takes her animal cracker. Hurt and confused, she turns to her Uncle Jesse for advice—who was there that day as a substitute parent volunteer. Jesse, protective and impetuous, tells her, “Go eat his cookie. If somebody does something to you, do it back to them." His advice ends up backfiring. Michelle takes Aaron’s cookie, and this leads to a pinch fight. When both children get punished, Jesse makes another unilateral decision and pulls Michelle out of preschool!

The preschool calls Michelle’s dad, Danny, and he isn’t thrilled. Jesse tries to defend his advice, arguing he was just trying to help her be brave. And while that’s true, he didn’t pause to consider the full picture—he didn’t talk to Danny first or help Michelle understand the difference between justice and vengeance. But later, when Michelle strikes again and pinches her sister Stephanie over a minor disagreement, Jesse realizes that his earlier counsel was misguided. He acknowledges his mistake and teaches Michelle a better lesson.

When I read today’s passage, I picture Michelle and Uncle Jesse. David’s living in a beautiful palace, resting from his battles, and he looks around and says, “I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God remains in a tent.” His desire is noble: He wants to build a temple, a permanent home for the Ark of the Covenant. And Nathan the prophet, trusted and godly, hears David’s idea and responds with a confident, “Yes!”

But that night, God speaks to Nathan and essentially tells him, “Pump the brakes. You spoke too soon.” God tells Nathan to go back and deliver a different message: “Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.” In other words: God never David asked for a house.

David’s heart was good. Nathan’s response was sincere. But they both missed something vital: What God desires doesn’t always align with what we assume is best.

This is something we all need to hear, because sometimes we can get ahead of ourselves. We speak for God without consulting Him. We rely on our own wisdom and understanding, which could be vast and godly, and then affirm something without seeking His will. This happens because we’re human, we’re not perfect, and we don’t see all ends . . . but God is and He does!

That’s why we need to remember these words from an old hymn: “Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

Before we act—even on good ideas—we should pause and pray. Let God lead. His answer may be “yes,” “no,” or even “not yet.” Whatever it is, trust it’s the best course of action. Because even when God says “no,” He’s often making room for a far greater “YES!”

A few verses later we see God tell David: “The Lord himself will establish a house for you. . . . I will raise up your offspring . . . and I will establish his kingdom” (2 Samuel 7:11 NIV). David doesn’t build the temple, but his son Solomon does. More than that, a thousand years later, another Son would come—the greater Son of David, Jesus—not to build a physical temple, but to establish a kingdom that would never end.

Through Jesus, God takes the idea of not needing a building even further. Because now, He dwells in all those who have given their lives to Jesus! We are His temple, the house He builds. Through the cross and resurrection, and through the gift of the Holy Spirit, God chooses to dwell in His people. The ultimate fulfillment of 2 Samuel 7 isn’t Solomon’s temple, it’s the body of Christ, the church, filled with the presence of God.

David wanted to do something for God, but God wanted to do something through David—something far greater than he could’ve imagined. And the same is true for you!

Pause: What’s the risk of moving forward with something that seems noble or right before seeking the Lord’s wisdom and guidance?

Practice: Don’t assume . . . ask first. Carry things to God in prayer before you carry it out in action. And when He says “no,” trust it’s because He’s writing a better story.

Pray: Lord, thank You for being the God who sees beyond my intentions. Forgive me when I run ahead of You. Help me to carry everything to You in prayer—and give me the humility to trust Your “no,” knowing that Your plans are always better than mine. Thank You for Jesus, through whom You’ve built an eternal kingdom and made me part of Your house. Amen.