What if I told you the scariest thing God could ever do for you isn’t sending a storm, closing a door, or even saying “No” to your prayer? The scariest thing He can do… is let you have your own way.
Yes—you heard that right. Sometimes the greatest judgment isn’t what God stops, but what He allows.
The psalmist put it plainly: “So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels” (Psalm 81:12, KJV). In other words, God said, “Fine. If you want it badly enough, you can have it. But you won’t like where it leads.”
Israel’s Dangerous Request
Think about Israel in the days of Samuel. God had been their King. He had delivered them from Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and fed them with manna from heaven. No earthly king could compare!
But Israel looked around at the nations and grew restless. They didn’t want to be different anymore. They said: “Nay; but we will have a king over us” (1 Samuel 8:19, KJV).
Samuel tried to warn them. He told them what a king would bring—heavy taxes, wars, oppression, disappointment. But they insisted. And God gave them exactly what they wanted.
At first, Saul looked like everything they dreamed of—tall, strong, impressive. But it wasn’t long before their “dream king” became their downfall.
The Truth About Getting Your Own Way
That’s the danger of insisting on your way. It may look good on the outside. It may even feel like a victory. But when God steps back, the very thing you begged for can become the thing that breaks you.
Why?
- Our perspective is short-sighted. We see the moment. God sees the lifetime.
- Our desires can deceive us. What looks sweet today can turn bitter tomorrow. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9, KJV).
- Our plans can never match His. God’s “No” is always for our protection. His “Wait” is always for our preparation.
Modern Lessons We Can’t Ignore
- In Relationships: Maybe you’re chasing someone God never intended for you. He keeps shutting the door, but you keep knocking. Forcing it open might feel like love, but it could lead to years of regret.
- In Careers: That job, that promotion, that opportunity you want so badly—if God hasn’t opened it, maybe it’s not a blessing but a burden.
- In Daily Choices: Even in small decisions, choosing without prayer is dangerous. A life directed by “my way” always leads to dead ends.
How to Avoid This Trap
So how do we keep from falling into the same trap Israel did?
- Pray for His Will, Not Just His Blessing. Jesus prayed, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42, KJV). That’s the safest prayer you’ll ever pray.
- Learn to Trust Delays. God’s timing is not slow—it’s strategic. His waiting seasons are shaping you for His greater plan.
- Surrender Daily. Don’t just give God your Sundays—give Him your decisions, your dreams, and your desires.
Hope for the Journey Ahead
Friend, the most frightening thing isn’t when God says “No.” It’s when He steps aside and says, “Have it your way.”
But here’s the good news: He loves you too much to abandon you. Even if you’ve been living by your own way, His arms are still open. He can redeem wasted years, restore broken paths, and lead you into His perfect plan.
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6, KJV).
Don’t settle for your way. Trust His way—it’s always better.
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