i'm grateful for when god says 'no'

I wanted to marry my high school sweet heart. I prayed. I begged. I tried to make a deal. 'Please,' I said, 'I'll do anything.' But He said, 'No' and that was that.

I wanted to be a teacher. It would have been easy. The job searching would have come naturally. But He said, 'No' and that was that.

I wanted to work at the MTC. It would have fit perfectly into my plans. I could have done an excellent job. But He said, 'No' and that was that.

I wanted to date the kid with the glasses.

But He said, 'No.'

I wanted to fall in love with the blonde guy.

But He said, 'No.'

I wanted to have a husband before I graduated from college.

But He said, 'No.'

Sometimes He said, 'No,' and I didn't listen. I'd do it anyway.

That's when I'd have to turn around and go back.

The most beautiful part about it was that He let me start over again.

"...remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done...and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work;" Doc. and Cov. 3:10

I'm glad for the times He said, 'No.' I've cried tears of gratitude for them. I can't believe the things that I have are mine.

Everything that is good in my life is because He told me, 'No.'

'No Jess,' He'd say. 'I've got something else. You're going to love it.'

'I don't even know what I love,' I'd say.

He did. He knew what I needed and wanted before I did.

Really what He was saying when He said, 'No' was: 'No, that's not good enough for you. I need you elsewhere.'

I love this elsewhere. I never could have designed anything more made for me.

I love my job. I love my life. I love this soul He is making me in to.

I thank my Father every day that He said, 'No.'

Photo by Jade