Sometimes a "no", "do not", or "don't have" is a blessing too

She sat across from me with her hand gently around that red cup, in the seat where her back would be against the wall. She didn't much care to have her back to the room, she liked to be able to see what was going on.

She had answered questions about ministry, her time with The Lord, friendships, and more about her new season of life with her head held high and a smile on her face. With the last question she answered though, something changed so quickly. Her shoulders dropped, her tone changed, and without looking up she said "no, I'm not married."

The quick change was such a shock. From the things she had been saying it was very evident The Lord has blessed her with many many things and had His hand on her. This girl had answered everything so joyfully and then that one question, the answer to that one question she carried the answer around with her in shame.

She had so many blessings, but had she missed that because the enemy had pulled one of the oldest tricks in the book?

Let me explain. Go back with me to the beginning. Not the beginning of this story, but the beginning of The Story. Back to the Garden of Eden.

(There is a lot of scripture here so I won't insert it all, but I encourage you when you have a moment to go read through Genesis 2.)

Let me talk to you about Eve, the very first woman in the Bible, and the very first for the enemy to pull this trick on. 

Eve had a man (companionship).
Eve had 4 rivers flowing through the garden of Eden (water)
Eve had trees, plants, and animals within quick reach (food)
Eve had The Lord's blessing, protection, and perfection surrounding her.

She had it all, but one thing. And here is where the enemy pulls a fast one on her. He places a big ole spot light on the one thing she doesn't have. Using that one thing to distract her and make her think The Lord is holding out on her and does not know what is best for her. There is a reason she doesn't have that one thing in her possession, but she is encompassed in the enemy's trick that she can't see that. 

Sound familiar? See how these two stories are oh so similar? 

From the very beginning this has been a trick of the enemy's. Eve missed all The Lord had blessed her with because she was so focused on that one thing she did not have. She was so distracted by it that she couldn't even trust The Lord and know that maybe He had a reason for keeping that one thing she was lacking away from her. 

The same goes with the girl in the story with her head hung low in shame of the fact she does not have a husband. 

Can I be completely honest with you about something? That girl in the story, remember her? Yeah, that was me. Head hung in shame as soon as somebody asked if I was married. Every single time, my reaction was the same. 

Head hung in shame.
Shame wrapped in thoughts of they will wonder what is wrong with me, and try to figure out why I'm not married. 

Then one day I felt the Lord prick my heart and whisper "you are missing all the other blessings, because you are so focused on what you do not have. Be thankful, and keep your eyes focused on me and what you do have." and with that He placed the story of Eve on my mind. 

After reading and studying what Eve had in the Garden of Eden and how she had fallen prey to the same exact trap I did, it was like my eyes were opened. 

God calls us to be content, not complacent. 
Faithful, focused, and fruitful with what He has given us, not distracted, distraught, and disobedient because there are things He has not given us. 

Don't be so distracted by the do nots that you miss the sweet blessings of Your Heavenly Father. Sometimes a no, do not, or don't have is a blessing too. 

Just as Eve couldn't see that The Lord had a plan and purpose, I couldn't see that He had and has a plan for me too and that "don't have" is a blessing too. 

We all have wants which we feel like are our needs. Yours is probably on the tip of your tongue right now. I challenge you to open your fists and hand it over to The Lord. I challenge you to trust He has a reason for it not being in your life in this season. 

One day He may and you will know God is God and God is good. 
And it may never come but you will know that God is still God and God is still good. 

So friend if you take nothing from this keep this little nugget of truth in the back of your mind ...

Praise Him for what you do have, and  Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,because the enemy comes to kill steal and destory. (1 Peter 5:8-9 & John 10:10)