Dave Havir, in his second sermon in the Understanding True Faith series, reminds us that it is possible to confuse faith with hope, and also that is possible to misinterpret promises. Most of the time God's ways make sense; at other times we do not have enough data to understand His purposes. God has not promised that He would answer every one of our prayers with a “yes” answer. Our petitions must correspond to God's will, not our own. As a responsible parent, God knows that some things we ask Him may not be good for us. The only petitions that God will honor are those consistent with His will. God answers a resounding “no” to prayers whose affirmative answers would be harmful to us. Moses and David were given “no” answers to sincerely asked petitions. God, as a perfect parent, will supply our personal needs. God often will give us the desires of our heart. God sometimes says “no” because deeply He loves us.

All things are possible * All things are not promised * Asking amiss * Child rearing * Children's requests  * Confusion of faith and hope * Desires of the heart * Deuteronomy * Entitlement mentality * Faith as a mustard seed * Faith * I John 5:14 * God as a genie * God sometimes answers no * God supplies personal needs * James 4:2 * Job * John 14:13-14; 16:23-24 * Mark 9:23; 11:22-24 * Marriage counseling * Matthew 7:7-8; 17:20; 21:21-22 * Misinterpreting promises * Name it and claim it * Say it and claim it * II Corinthians 12:8-9 * II Samuel 12:15-23 * Spouse * Survivor's guilt * Thorn in the flesh * Unbelief