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May 9, 2025 15 mins

What do you do when your plans keep falling apart? When the dreams you prayed for unravel or the doors you were sure God opened suddenly slam shut? In today’s episode of Curious for Christ, I walk us through Luke 24 and the Emmaus Road—the sacred, in-between space where disappointment meets the presence of Jesus.

We explore how spiritual transformation often comes not in the fulfillment of our plans, but in the death of our expectations. Through honest reflection, personal stories, and biblical insight, you’ll be invited to see your disappointment not as the end—but as the beginning of resurrection.

In this episode, we talk about:

• How Jesus meets us in our confusion and pain
• The spiritual process of dying to old identities and dreams
• Why disappointment can be a doorway to deeper intimacy with God
• The importance of naming your emotions and engaging with Scripture
• What it means to walk the Emmaus Road in your own life

Scriptures Mentioned:
• Luke 24:12–49
• Isaiah 40:31
• Psalm references (David’s honest prayers)

Key Quote:
“Disappointment isn’t the end of your story—it’s where Jesus often shows up to walk with you, open your eyes, and set your heart on fire again.”

Resources & Next Steps:
• Listen to Episode 86: Healing, Emotion, and Renewal with God
• Share this episode with a friend who’s in a season of waiting or discouragement
• Leave a comment or DM Alexandra to share your story or ask for prayer

Rate & Review:
If this episode encouraged you, please rate and leave a review. It helps others find the show—and helps us keep these conversations going.

Thanks for listening! Your support means the world. Join our Curious for Christ Facebook Group and become an Insider for weekly inspiration and encouragement on your faith journey.

Want to go deeper? Let's connect—set up a FREE Discovery Call today. See you next time!

Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome back to Curious ForChrist.

(00:01):
I'm so glad you're here.
Whether you've been listeningfor a while or this is your
first time, welcome.
This is a space where I love towrestle honestly with you, with
life, with faith, and with thepresence of Jesus in our
everyday moments.
I'm your host, AlexandraAlvarez, and today we are going
to talk about something thathits deep.
What do we do when our plansfall apart again and again and

(00:27):
again and again?
Maybe you've asked yourself, whybother dreaming or planning if
it never works out anyways?
Or, who am I to want more?
Am I doing something wrong?
If you felt like that, you'renot alone.
It just means you are human.
I've been there too, especiallyin my finances, my work, even in
the way I see myself, myparenting, I mean every area,

(00:49):
quite honestly, of my life.
In one of those hard seasons, asI sat with God and wrestled
through my questions, he led meto Luke 24.
It was actually sparked by asermon I heard at church, and
something in that passagestirred something deep in me.
So let's read Luke 24 verses 12through 49.
Nothing like hearing the word ofGod that is living and active.

(01:11):
My words are okay, but the wordof God is truly life changing
and dive into it.
Welcome to Curious for Christ.
Do you ever find yourself lying,awake at night wondering about
God's plan for your life?
Maybe you wake up with bigdreams, but feel unsure where to

(01:32):
start or what your next stepshould be.
If you're curious aboutexploring your faith and finding
purpose, then you've come to theright place.
Hi, I'm Alexandra.
I too felt lost and sure of thedirection my life was taking.
I yearned to understand mypurpose and have someone guide
me, but I kept telling myself Iwas too busy.

(01:53):
The timing wasn't right, and mylack of clarity prevented me
from being consistent until Ifound Christ.
He brought peace into my lifeand revealed the way to find
purpose by anchoring myself.
In him.
In this podcast, we'll journeytogether exploring the Bible to
gain a deeper understanding ofhim and cultivate your own

(02:17):
personal relationship withChrist.
So open up your Bible, put inthose earbuds and listen up
because God is speaking to you.
He's making everything new andyou don't wanna miss it.
Let's get started.

(02:39):
Luke 24 verse 12.
Peter, however, got up and ranto the tomb, bending over.
He saw the strips of linen lyingby themselves, and he went away
wandering to himself What hadhappened now that same day, two
of them were going to a villagecalled a mouse, about seven
miles from Jerusalem.

(02:59):
They were talking with eachother about everything that had
happened.
As they talked and discussingthings with each other, Jesus
himself came and walked alongwith them, but they were kept
from recognizing him.
He asked them, what are youdiscussing together as you walk
along?
They stood still, their facesdowncast.

(03:20):
One of them named Cleopas askedhim, are you the only one
visiting Jerusalem who does notknow the things that have
happened there in these days?
What things he asked?
About Jesus of Nazareth.
They replied he was a prophet,powerful in word indeed before
God.
And all the people, the chiefpriests and our rulers handed

(03:41):
him over to be sentenced todeath.
And they crucified him, but wehad hoped that he was the one
who was going to redeem Israel.
And what is more?
It is this third day, since allthis took place.
In addition, some of our womenamazed us.
They went to the tomb early thismorning but didn't find his
body.
They came and told us that theyhad seen a vision of angels who

(04:03):
said he was alive.
Then some of our companions wentto the tomb and found it just as
the women had said, but they didnot see Jesus.
He said to them, how foolish youare and how slow to believe all
that the prophets have spoken.
Did not the Messiah have tosuffer these things and then
enter his glory.

(04:23):
And beginning with Moses and allthe prophets, he explained to
them what was said in all thescriptures concerning himself as
they approached the village towhich they were going.
Jesus continued on as if he weregoing father, but they urged him
strongly.
Stay with us.
For it is nearly evening.
The day is almost over.
So he went in to stay with them.

(04:44):
When he was at the table withthem, he took bread, gave
thanks, broke it, and began togive it to them.
Then their eyes were open andthey recognized him and he
disappeared from their sight.
They asked each other, we're notour hearts burning within us
while he talked with us on theroad and opened the scriptures

(05:06):
to us.
They got up and returned it onceto Jerusalem.
There, they found the 11 andthose with them assembled
together and saying, it is true.
The Lord has risen and hasappeared to Simon.
Then the two told what hadhappened on the way and how
Jesus was recognized by themwhen he broke the bread.

(05:27):
While they were still talkingabout this.
Jesus himself stood among themand said to them, peace be with
you.
They were startled andfrightened thinking they saw a
ghost.
He said to them, why are youtroubled?
And why do doubts rise in yourminds?
Look at my hands and my feet.
It is.
I myself, touch me and see aghost does not have flesh and

(05:51):
bones as you see.
I have when he said this, heshowed them his hands and feet,
and while they still did notbelieve it because of joy and
amazement, he asked them, do youhave anything here to eat?
They gave him a piece of broiledfish and he took it and ate it
in their presence, he said tothem.

(06:13):
This is what I told you while Iwas still with you.
Everything must be fulfilled.
That is written about me in thelaw of Moses, the prophets and
the Psalms.
Then he opened their minds sothey could understand the
scriptures.
He told them this is what iswritten.
The Messiah will suffer and risefrom the dead on the third day,
and repentance for theforgiveness of sins will be

(06:34):
preached in his name to allnations beginning at Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of thesethings.
I am going to send you what myfather has promised, but stay in
the city until you have beenclosed with power from on high.
In Luke 24, we find twodisciples walking the road to a

(06:55):
mouse.
Jesus had just been crucified.
Their whole world had fallenapart.
The one they believed would savethem, the one they gave
everything for.
There was no plan, B was dead.
They're walking away fromJerusalem, confused and
heartbroken, trying to makesense of it all.

(07:16):
And here's the beautiful part.
Jesus meets them on the road,but they didn't recognize him at
first.
He walks with them, listens,asks questions, and then reminds
them of scriptures to show themwhat they couldn't see before
they had misunderstood the plan.
And eventually their eyes areopen and they say.

(07:39):
Weren't our hearts burningwithin us while he talked with
us on the road?
When we hear truth, we comealive.
It's very clear.
We're not doubting, we're notconfused.
We're no longer sad.
We have passion within us.
I have seen that same process inthe disappointments I walk
through.
I've had contracts fall throughdreams unravel.

(08:03):
I've made plans that felt wiseand prayed over only to watch
them dissolve.
And in those moments I'd findmyself saying things like,
what's the point?
Maybe I'm not met for that kindof life.
Maybe I'm just always going tofall short.
That's who I am.
But Luke 24 reminds me thisappoint is not the end of the

(08:26):
story.
I am on the Amal Road.
It's a process of death andresurrection.
We can't overlook this moment.
The Amal Road isn't just astory, it is a process.
It's important to know where Iam so that I can recognize it,
embrace the process, move alongwith more ease and a burning in

(08:47):
my heart, a passion knowing thatI'm closer to Jesus than I
thought.
It is a spiritual pathway thatmany of us are walking through
without realizing it.
many of us are on this road, butfail to recognize it as a
process.
So we miss God and walk away toosoon.
This is a road where we eitherfind Jesus again deeper, closer,

(09:12):
or we see him for the firsttime.
You see, disappointment hasmeaning and purpose only if we
seek God and ultimately findhim.
So let me say this gently again.
Your story is not over.
Jesus is with you on the road inthe confusion and in the

(09:32):
silence, but we have to bewilling to engage with him to
open the Bible and let itreflect something back to us
like Jesus invites them and asksin verse 19, what things.
He already knows what it is thatthey are confused about or what
happened.
He already knows everything he'sJesus, but he asks because he's

(09:54):
teaching us how to walk the roadby processing, speaking,
grieving, and naming what hurts,and then showing scripture again
back as a mirror in a heart thatis emptied.
And ready to see and embraceGod's plan.
For instance, I've had prayers.
Based on scripture, God's veryown words.
Isaiah 55 verses age throughnine.

(10:16):
For my thoughts are not yourthoughts, neither are your ways.
My ways declares the load.
So I say, God, I know your waysare higher, but sometimes that
just makes me feel like I'llnever measure up.
And God used that to show mesomething about myself, that
there's still a part of me, ayounger version.

(10:36):
That's trying to prove I'm worthit somehow.
I still believe I'll nevermeasure up and I'm fighting with
this and I wanna prove them,whomever that person was.
I wanna prove them wrong so Ican feel secure with it.
So I can feel like I, I can earnthis love.
And then God whispered, youdon't have to prove anything.
You are already mine.

(10:57):
That's when the resurrectionstarts.
When we stay with God and wetalk so that we can see what is
truly in our heart.
What is the belief that I'mstill holding onto that is not
of God?
What is the plan that I think isgonna be God's plan but does not
belong?
That's when the resurrectionstarts, not because the

(11:17):
situation changed.
I'm still disappointed and stilldidn't happen the way I wanted.
It to happen, but because I waschanged, something old died,
something new came alive.
David is a great example of notholding back his feelings and he
wrote many Psalms songs andprayers that started with, where

(11:37):
are you?
God, I can't see you.
People wanna kill me and I'mhere by myself.
When will you come through forme?
And then he ends his same Psalm,you are my God.
I will never forsake you.
You never forsake me.
But that's the walk.
So here's the process as I'veexperienced it, and the same way

(11:59):
that these disciples alsoexperienced, uh, on the road to
a mao.
Number one, there's a dream thatis planted in your heart mostly
from God.
It is big.
It is awesome.
Number two, you pursue thatdream with hope and amazement,
and then three.
It collapses.
It's the end.
It feels like the end, but it'snot the end of the dream.

(12:23):
It's the end of a version ofyourself that God is inviting
you to release on your way tothe dream.
And the truth is, the dream isgreat, but what you gain on your
way to the dream is so muchgreater.
It's God himself.
So if your plants have fallenapart, it's not what you hoped

(12:47):
for.
If you feel like you're in a fogof confusion and disappointment,
take heart.
You're on the a mouse road,you're in the middle of the
process, not the end of it.
And Jesus is walking with you.
He wants you to see him.
Isaiah 40 verse 31 says, butthose who wait on the Lord will

(13:07):
renew their strength.
They will soar on wings likeeagles.
You are walking now, you willsoar like an eagle.
That's pretty awesome.
So stick with God, wait on him.
What's on the other side of yourdisappointment because you will
soar above.
Those seeming troubles andobstacles.
They're not gonna be obstaclesanymore.

(13:30):
Not for God and not for youeither.
So also faith doesn't alwayslook like confidence, right?
It's okay if you're still in themiddle of it and you have still
a lot of feelings and emotionssometimes.
Faith looks like honesty.
Sometimes it looks like one morestep forward in silence just to
see what is in the the otherside when things are almost dead

(13:54):
in you.
If you stay close to Jesus, ifyou let him open the scriptures
and open your eyes, you willrise.
You will walk in new vision, newstrength, and new identity.
So that's it for today.
I hope this gave you someencouragement or at least a
different way to viewdisappointment.
It really isn't the end of it,it's just the process, and it's

(14:17):
just part of us being human.
So if this episode resonatedwith you, here's what I'd love
for you to do.
Number one, share this episodewith a friend who's walking
through this appointment.
Someone who needs to know thatthis isn't the end, it's just
the middle, just the process.
Number two, leave a comment.
If you're in a season like this,I'd love to pray for you or hear

(14:37):
your story.
And then lastly, go check outepisode 86 of Cure for Christ.
We dive into healing, releasing,and how God reshapes us in quite
places.
It's a nice companion to what weexplore today.
Until next time, my friend, keepwalking, keep hoping and stay
curious for Christ.

(15:03):
Hi, I hope you enjoy today'sepisode.
If so, would you like to take 30seconds and share it with a
friend who may also strugglewith knowing God and his purpose
for their life?
Also, leave a review on ApplePodcast and let me know what
topics you'd like to hear aboutin the future.
Your voice matters.

(15:24):
I'll meet you back next Friday.
For another episode.
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