1 Chronicles 22:7-10

David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me… ‘You are not to build a house for my Name… But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest… He is the one who will build a house for my Name… and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever. ‘” 

King David had a big dream.  It was a passion born of a sincere and heartfelt love for God and a desire to lift up his Name and see Him glorified on the earth.  David was driven to build a temple for the Lord.  Now that Israel was established, it bothered David that he lived in a large luxurious palace while the ark of the covenant, the physical representation of the presence of God in Israel was stored in a tent- an ancient portable worship structure that dated back to the time of Moses.  Didn’t God deserve better? Israel had become a great nation. It was time, David thought, for Israel’s center of worship to reflect the greatness of the one true God. He envisioned a glorious temple with rich tapestry, much gold and precious jewels, solid stone and wood construction that would become the center of the capital city, Jerusalem.  He was passionate, had great motives and had the resources and drive to move forward; and God said, “No.”  “Your the wrong man, this is the  wrong time and who told you that I needed a house, anyway?” (2 Samuel 7:1-7)

Ouch.

Sometimes that happens and to be honest, I’m not sure why. We have a passion trapped deep in our heart and for whatever reason God says, “No.” I have sat with people who fervently pray for physical healing and God seems to say, “No.”  I’ve encountered many folks who carry within them an unrealized dream- for vocation, ministry, family or life. They cry out to God, they want to see it come to pass and God’s answer to them seems to be a variation of “No.” (Whether,  “not you” “not yet” or “not ever.”) That can be hard to accept. What are we to do with unfulfilled dreams? 

For David, God’s “No” came with an enduring promise.  True, David was not to be the one to build a temple for the LORD; it would be his son Solomon and not in David’s lifetime. He would never live to see it.  But God had something much better for him.  Instead of David building a house for God; God’s plan all along was to build a “house” for David. In fact, one of David’s offspring (Jesus) would establish his kingdom forever!  (2 Samuel 7:11-13). As a direct descendent of the Messiah, David’s part in God’s kingdom plan was far bigger than he could have ever imagined. All God was asking was for David to trade in his small dream for God’s bigger one.

Maybe that is what God’s “No” to us really is.  He is asking us to trade up our small dreams for his bigger one.   What if God sees and knows that once the dust has settled on this life, his “no” will ultimately lead to something far more enduring than anything you or I could have envisioned or even imagined?  Perhaps God is using “No” to draw us into deeper dependence on him, align our wills with his and centering us to fulfill his grand purpose.  

Can you trust Him for that?