AND GOD SAID, "NO"

I ASKED GOD TO TAKE AWAY MY GRIEF,
AND GOD SAID, "NO"
HE SAID IT WAS NOT FOR HIM TO TAKE AWAY,
BUT FOR ME TO WORK THROUGH.
I ASKED GOD TO MAKE MY BROKEN HEART WHOLE,
AND GOD SAID "NO"
HE SAID YOUR SPIRIT IS WHOLE,
YOUR PAIN IS ONLY TEMPORARY.
I ASKED GOD TO TAKE AWAY MY SADNESS,
AND GOD SAID "NO"
HE SAID SADNESS IS A STATE OF MIND,
THE OTHER SIDE OF GLADNESS.
I ASKED GOD TO GRANT ME PATIENCE,
AND GOD SAID "NO"
HE SAID THAT PATIENCE IS BY-PRODUCT OF
TRIBULATION,
IT ISN'T GRANTED, IT'S EARNED
I ASKED GOD TO GIVE ME HAPPINESS,
AND GOD SAID "NO"
HE SAID HE GIVES BLESSINGS,
HAPPINESS IS UP TO ME.
I ASKED GOD TO SPARE ME PAIN,
AND GOD SAID "NO"
HE SAID, "SUFFERING DRAWS YOU APART FROM
WORDLY CARES AND BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO ME."
I ASKED GOD TO MAKE MY SPIRIT GROW,
AND GOD SAID "NO"
HE SAID I MUST GROW ON MY OWN,
BUT HE WILL PRUNE ME TO MAKE ME FRUITFUL.
I ASKED GOD IF HE LOVES ME,
AND GOD SAID "YES"
HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON WHO DIED FOR ME,
AND I WIL BE IN HEAVEN SOMEDAY BECAUSE I
BELIEVE.
I ASKED GOD TO HELP ME LOVE OTHERS,
AS MUCH AS HE LOVES ME,
AND GOD SAID,
"AH, FINALLY, YOU HAVE THE IDEA."