We’ve all heard the saying: “God always answers, even when the answer is no.” Sometimes, you’ll hear it in more digestible, encouraging words, like, “Rejection is protection,” a common motto among the “new age” community. For years, I heard it too, but it never really resonated. I didn’t truly understand it until I experienced one of the hardest lessons of my life—a firm and undeniable “no” from God.
That experience taught me a truth that was both raw and humbling: when God says “no,” He does it to protect us, to guide us, and to keep us on the path He has planned. But hearing “no” from Him isn’t easy, and it certainly doesn’t feel like protection in the moment.
Here’s what I learned from my experience:
When God says “no,” things will feel difficult. No matter what you do, you’ll encounter resistance. Your plans will begin to unravel, and every step you take will feel like you’re walking through quicksand.
You might hear people say that this is God testing your faith, and in a way, it is. But more than that, it’s a sign that you’re not heading in the right direction. It’s a sign that the path you’re trying to forge isn’t the one God has set for you. And more often than not, it’s a sign that you are blocking your own blessings.
When we persist in trying to force a “yes” where God has clearly said “no,” we get in our own way. We focus so intensely on what we want—what we think is best—that we lose sight of the blessings God has waiting for us. Instead of moving forward, we stay stuck in a cycle of frustration, confusion, and struggle.
But here’s something deeper to consider: sometimes, the answer shifts from a “yes” to a “no” because someone in your life has also received a “no” from God and refuses to accept it.
This was the experience that taught me what a true “no” from God looks and feels like. What started out beautifully—a situation where God had said, “Yes, this person is good for you, and you are good for them”—changed as the “other person,” as we’ll call them, refused to grow with the lessons and experiences God was giving them.
Instead of leveling up and walking the path God had laid out, they began veering off-course, determined to drive their own life on their own Earthly terms, resisting His will for the greater good of all. When that shift happened, God’s answer for me also changed.
What had once been a “yes” turned into a firm “no” as their actions revealed that their focus was no longer on growth but on personal gratification. They chose chaos over clarity, numbing pain instead of healing it, and clinging to old patterns instead of seeking transformation. Their refusal to align with God’s plan began to hinder my own journey, becoming a distraction from the bigger picture of what God was trying to do in my life and a danger to the blessings I knew God had for us all.
When someone resists God’s will and clings to you or your blessings as a way to sidestep their own journey, God will step in. He will steer you away from them—not to punish either of you, but to protect you. God knows the weight of your blessings, your purpose, and your abundance. He will not allow those blessings to be misused or drained by someone who is unwilling to walk in obedience.
God’s Word tells us:
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)
This is the essence of karma, a principle often misunderstood. Karma isn’t just about punishment; it’s about balance. It’s about sowing and reaping. When someone sows resistance to God’s plan, they reap the chaos of their own making.
If God knows someone in your life is an “energetic vampire”—someone who drains your energy and rides on your coattails, hoping to reap blessings that do not belong to them—He will act. God is just, and He will not allow those who sow disobedience to ride the wave of your abundance.
Scripture, as well as the principle of karma, makes it clear: blessings are owed to you in your obedience. In these moments, His “no” to you is His way of moving you toward safety and ensuring that the blessings He has prepared for you are not misused by others. This might feel harsh, but it’s a reflection of God’s love and justice.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
God wants you to prosper, but He also wants you to prosper in the right environment, surrounded by the right people. Especially when He shifts the answer from a “yes” to a “no,” it’s because He is protecting your growth, your peace, and your purpose. He knows that the wrong environment or the wrong people can hinder the blessings He has prepared for you, and in His love, He removes what could keep you from living fully in His plan.
Think of it this way: if your hands are full of something that doesn’t serve you, how can you receive what God is trying to give you? Holding onto the wrong things—wrong plans, wrong relationships, wrong priorities—blocks the flow of His blessings into your life. Until you release what you’re gripping so tightly, your hands remain closed to the goodness He wants to pour out.
The harder we cling to our own plans, the more chaos we invite into our lives. Things will continue to fall apart until we stop and acknowledge the truth: we’re standing in our own way. And in doing so, we’re resisting God’s will, which is always better than anything we could imagine for ourselves.
Accepting God’s “no” is one of the hardest lessons to learn and things to do in our Earthly incarnation—the physical life where our souls navigate growth, challenges, and spiritual lessons. It was for me, and I know it is for many others. But looking back, I realize that “no” was not just an answer—it was a blessing. It was protection. It was God saying, “This isn’t what I have for you, and I want more for you than this.”
If you’re in a season where nothing seems to be working—where the harder you try, the worse things seem to get—I invite you to pause. Reflect. Ask yourself: is God telling me “no”? And if He is, can I trust Him enough to stop fighting and let go?
It’s not easy. It may feel raw and messy. But the beauty of God’s “no” is that it is always rooted in love. When He closes one door, He is guiding us toward another—one that leads us closer to Him and the life He has planned for us.
And here’s the most important part: God always provides when we trust Him and accept His “no.” Even though the life we’re being led to may not look like the one we envisioned, we can trust that it is better than the strife, difficulty, and pain that come when we resist His will. When we release our grip on what we thought we wanted, we make room for the life He wants to give us—a life filled with peace, abundance, and purpose.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
God’s plans are always for our greater good. Trust Him. Let Him guide you. And know that even in the “no,” there is grace, protection, and a promise of something better waiting ahead.
The Twin Tree Project 