What God wants to give you is always more than you impulsively grab for yourself. Thank Him for sometimes saying no … so that He can say "yes" to something more.

Sometimes God is like the father of two little boys who tried to teach his sons a lesson. Off they went to the local discount store, where he said they could get whatever they wanted. First they wanted jellybeans.

“Are you sure?” Dad asked.

Rethinking their choice, the boys ran to the sporting section. Picking up a football, they said, “Daddy, this is it!”

He suggested they keep looking.

They came to the bikes, and their eyes lit up. “Daddy, this is it. This is what we really want!”

Dad smiled. He’d intended to get them the bikes all along.

Could it be God hasn’t given you what you’ve asked for because you’ve asked for jellybeans when He has a bicycle in mind? Maybe you’re grieving now, but when you see what He has for you, your tears will be replaced by laughter. That’s what Jesus was telling His disciples when He said, “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy” (John 16:20).

What God wants to give you is always more than you impulsively grab for yourself. Thank Him for sometimes saying no … so that He can say yes to something more.