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For What His Love Denies
For What His Love Denies
The famous hymn-writer Fanny Crosby left behind an unpublished poem about unanswered prayers entitled, “For What His Love Denies.” Consider its profound message:
God does not give me all I ask,
Nor answer as I pray;
But, O, my cup is brimming o’er
With blessings day by day.
How oft the joy I thought withheld
Delights my longing eyes,
And so I thank Him from my heart
For what His love denies
Sometimes I miss a treasured link
In friendship’s hallowed chain,
And yet His smile is my reward
For every throb of pain.
I look beyond, where purer joys
Delight my longing eyes;
And so I thank Him from my heart
For what His love denies.
How tenderly He leadeth me
When earthly hopes are dim;
And when I falter by the way,
He bids me lean on Him.
He lifts my soul above the clouds
Where friendship never dies;
And so I thank Him from my heart
For what His love denies.
This poem reminds us of the Biblical truth that our prayers often go unanswered when there is a spiritual benefit that results. The most obvious example is Paul’s plea for God to remove the thorn in his side (2 Cor. 12:7-8). God denied that request, resulting in Paul’s increased trust in the sufficiency of divine grace (vv. 9-10).
Secondly, consider Abraham. He asked God if one born in his house could be his heir instead of a biological child (Gen. 15:3). God answered that his heir would come from his own body (v. 4). Suppose God had granted Abraham’s request. Then His promise to bless all of the families of the earth through Abraham’s seed (Gen. 12:3) would have been impossible.
Finally, consider Jesus’ Gethsemane prayers. Even they were not granted. If they had been, the cup would have passed from Jesus, and atonement for sin would have never occurred.
God knows what is best. He desires spiritual wellbeing over physical wellbeing, faith over comfort, salvation over survival. If denying certain requests we make will result in spiritual victory, He will gladly turn us down. This should bring us to our knees before His throne of grace in praise and thanksgiving for what His love denies.
