Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

When we had just opened the first boys’ home at Wears Valley Ranch, a staff member asked to take the boys, including two of my sons, to a cave with a large underground lake. The tourist season was over, and this would be a great money saving opportunity to go on the deluxe tour, which included a more extensive caving expedition followed by an overnight of camping inside one of the caverns.

While exploring the cave, the group from the Ranch could hear bulldozers working in the distance creating a new entrance to the cave in order to make the cave more accessible, especially to wheelchairs. Our boys were excited about the prospects of their older brother Paul being able to make the trip with them someday in his wheelchair.

For several hours, the group explored the recesses of this amazing geological formation. They crawled through narrow passages and experienced the remarkable stillness of total darkness all around them when they turned out their flashlights.

As everyone prepared to bed down for the night, my youngest son, nine-year-old Andrew, got very sick. It was midnight and everyone was exhausted from a long, hard day, but Andrew had a headache and began to vomit. The staff and other boys prayed for Andrew. This was the right thing for Christians to do in a situation like this. They prayed for Andrew’s healing, especially that he would be able to sleep. He continued to vomit. They continued to pray. He continued to vomit. They continued to pray intensely, reminding the Lord that they were exhausted and could barely stay awake.

Andrew finally told them, “I can’t stay in here. I have to get outside.”

His older brother, eleven-year-old Clayton, said, “If he’s going, I’m going with him.”

The staff decided they should all stay together, so everyone was told to gather their belongings. As they rose from the cave floor, everyone discovered that they were feeling woozy. They assumed it was exhaustion, and some of the group didn’t want to get up and go. They asked to stay behind and sleep.

Finally everybody—some quite angrily—got up and began making their way out of the cave. They struggled up the steps and out into the open air, not comprehending why they felt so weak. No one was thinking very clearly. Soon, they all had horrible headaches and began vomiting.

The group drove back to the Ranch discouraged by the late night interruption in their plans. The next day, still feeling very sick, they went to the hospital for blood tests, and it became clear that they had all nearly died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Apparently, some of the fumes from the bulldozers had been trapped in the particular cavern where they were told to sleep.

Looking back, they realized how earnestly they had wanted God to answer their prayer, “Lord, just make Andrew stop vomiting so we can sleep.” But God said no. Had God answered yes, they would have all been found dead the next day. Andrew had inhaled just enough fresh air to set off a nausea reaction to the carbon monoxide poisoning, and God had used Andrew’s suffering to save their lives.

God doesn’t always say yes to our prayers. When we can’t understand why, we have to trust God that He knows what we don’t know. He sees what we can’t see. When God says no, His love for us has not changed. His compassion has not dimmed. He understands what we’re going through.

Jesus was not pretending when He wept in the Garden of Gethsemane. He pleaded with the Father and cried out, “Father, if there’s any other way, please let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus understands our suffering. No matter what sort of pain or temptation we face, He has already been there.

God’s will is for our good no matter what we are going through. No matter how confusing and frightening our circumstances. Even when we can tell that this is surely a messenger of Satan, our God reigns supreme. His arm is not short. One day, every tear will be wiped away. All things will be made new. Until then, are you willing to trust His love and wisdom, knowing that His grace is sufficient, even when He says no to your requests?

Embrace His will for your life. Your plans will mislead you. God’s will is good, pleasing and perfect.