You Can’t Manipulate God with your tears — But You Can Trust Him

 

A friend once asked me, “Why is it that when we are in most situations, God doesn't seem to respond?”

I responded by saying: The silence of God is still a response.

If you feel God hasn’t answered you, perhaps it’s because you didn’t like the answer He gave.

God is sovereign. You cannot force His hand or manipulate Him with tears into doing what you want. Often, we have already received an answer, but because it’s not the one we hoped for, we assume it wasn’t from God. So we continue praying, not out of faith, but in an attempt to pressure Him into changing His mind.

We see a powerful example of this in the story of Balaam and Balak in the book of Numbers.

Balak, the king of Moab, wanted Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. When Balaam inquired of God, God clearly said no — he was not to go with them. Balaam sent this message back to the king. But Balak was persistent and sent more messengers. Again, Balaam sought the Lord, and again, the answer was no.

Eventually, Balak sent more prestigious officials and promised rewards. Balaam said he would pray again, and this time, God told him, “Go with them, but only say what I tell you to say.” (Numbers 22:20) This was not God changing His mind — it was what we call God’s permissive will. God allowed Balaam to go because Balaam’s heart was set on it. But permission does not equal approval.

God doesn’t force us to obey. But when we persist in our own desires, He may permit us to walk a path, even one that leads to hardship, to expose what’s really in our hearts.

As Balaam journeyed, an angel stood in his way to oppose him. Balaam couldn’t see the danger ahead, but his donkey did. When the donkey refused to move forward, Balaam grew angry, unaware that God was trying to stop him. Eventually, God opened the donkey’s mouth, and even then, Balaam kept insisting on continuing, believing he could still change God’s mind.

Even after all of this — after seeing an angel, after hearing a donkey speak — Balaam went ahead. He offered sacrifices, hoping to influence God. But no matter what he did, he could only speak the words God put in his mouth. You can’t fast enough, sacrifice enough, or cry hard enough to change what God has sovereignly determined.

You cannot blackmail God.

You can only align with His will.

Balaam’s story ends tragically — not because God failed him, but because he refused to submit. He continued in rebellion and eventually died in judgment.

So if you're fasting or praying during a difficult season, let it be from a place of intimacy and surrender, not manipulation. Sometimes, during your fasting, God will speak through His Word or through a gentle whisper, but the whisper is always loud enough for you to hear him.

So friends, Rest. Be still. Trust him.

Stay Revived!