When God Says "No"

Have you ever felt let down by God? 

You're not alone in those feelings.

Many of us unconsciously slip into viewing Jesus as a cosmic vending machine – insert prayer, receive desired outcome. 

But when life doesn't unfold according to our expectations, disappointment and doubt naturally follow. 

The truth is both challenging and liberating: Jesus never promised a trouble-free life. What He guaranteed us was His presence through every trial. 

He says in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world." 

This shift in perspective transforms everything. 

Perhaps the most profound blessings aren't those that change our circumstances but those that change our hearts – peace during chaos, joy amid sorrow, strength when we feel we can't continue.

Even Jesus experienced a "no" from the Father in Gethsemane, yet He still trusted. Trade expectations for trust, believing that God is working all things for your good.

This isn't wishful thinking – it's solid, anchored hope based on who God is, not what He does for us. Unanswered prayers often lead to unexpected grace.

It reminds us of Tim Keller's powerful insight: "Jesus gives us what we would have asked for if we knew everything He knows." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Thank you so much for listening to your Encouraging
5-Minute Podcast.
Hi, we're Eric and Heather andif you like the encouragement
you're going to get over thenext five minutes, you can
always listen to WPER,virginia's home, for
encouragement and if you'reoutside the listening area, go
to WPERorg.
You can get a direct link todownload the WPER app.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Listen, if you've ever thought God would do more
for you by now, or if you'veever wondered why didn't God
answer my prayer.
We are really glad you are heretoday.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Oh yeah, because sometimes I mean even without
realizing it we start to thinkof Jesus like a wish granting
genie.

Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah, Now let's say this, let's say this please know
that you are not alone in doingthat.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
No, and it's also important to know that God
doesn't hate you because hedidn't answer a certain prayer
that you've prayed.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
It's easy to think that following Jesus means life
is gonna be great.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
Oh yeah, like blessings are just gonna start
popping up all over the placeevery single day Promotions at
work, sicknesses are healed,relationships restored all the
things we've ever prayed for areall tied up in a nice little
bow.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
I mean, after all, he can do miracles, right?

Speaker 1 (01:07):
Yeah, well, what happens when he doesn't?

Speaker 2 (01:09):
What happens when you prayed for healing and it
didn't come, when you begged fora relationship to work and it
fell apart.
When you tithe faithfully andyour bank account's still in the
red.

Speaker 1 (01:19):
So see, that's when you might start to feel like God
has let you down.
He didn't show up when youneeded him.
Maybe you even feel like youmight start giving up on God.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
Listen.
If that's where you are rightnow, hear this.
Your disappointment is valid.
Your pain is real, yourfrustration's real.
God isn't afraid of yourquestions.
It's okay to feel the way youdo.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, it is.
I mean, honestly, it happens toevery single one of us.
You know, we get frustratedwith God and, maybe without
realizing it, we start to feellike, well, jesus exists to make
my life easier.
And then, when things get hardor prayers aren't answered just
the way we want them, we startto get frustrated with him.

Speaker 2 (01:58):
The truth is, jesus didn't come to hand out wishes.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
He didn't promise to make life easy or give us
everything we wanted.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
No, here's what he promised.
He promised that he would beeverything we needed.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
John 16, 33 even says in this world you will have
trouble, but take heart, I haveovercome the world.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Those are the words of Jesus and then notice what he
didn't say.
He didn't say you'll get everyprayer answer just the way you
want.
He said, yeah, you're going tohave trouble in life, but he
also said you'll have him.

Speaker 1 (02:29):
Yeah, he is going to be there every step of the way.
See, that's the blessing thatnever fails.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
And sometimes the greatest gifts from Jesus aren't
the ones that change ourcircumstances, are the ones that
change our hearts.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yeah, like peace in the middle of a storm, or joy
when nothing makes sense,strength to keep going when all
you want to do is just lay downand give up.
See, these are the blessingsthat nothing in this world can
explain.

Speaker 2 (02:55):
Suppose Jesus gave us what we wanted when we wanted
it, it'd be like a vendingmachine, you know, not a savior.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
No, Jesus sees past what we want.
He actually sees what we need.

Speaker 2 (03:07):
Reminds me of a quote from Tim Keller.
Maybe you've heard it Jesusgives us what we would have
asked for if we knew everythinghe knows.

Speaker 1 (03:16):
So, look, if you're in a season of waiting, of
unanswered questions, ofwondering if Jesus actually
cares about you, remember whathe did on the cross?

Speaker 2 (03:25):
Jesus didn't spare himself from suffering.
He stepped into it with us.

Speaker 1 (03:34):
Think about that.
Jesus knows pain, he knows loss.
Jesus knows what it is to prayFather, take this cup from me
and to actually hear a no inreturn.
Even with that no from hisfather, god said no.
Jesus still trusted.

Speaker 2 (03:45):
And because he did, we now have the greatest
blessing of all forgiveness,eternal life and real hope that
isn't based on everything in ourlives going right.
You know, jesus won the victoryover all of the pain of this
life.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
So, wherever you are today, however you are feeling,
can we encourage to trade yourexpectations for trust?

Speaker 2 (04:07):
So lay your disappointments at his feet and
believe, even when you don't seeit, that he is working things.
All things, yes, all things foryour good and for his glory.

Speaker 1 (04:19):
Okay, that's not just hope, that's a solid, anchored
hope.

Speaker 2 (04:23):
Well, we hope you've been encouraged today.
If you need more encouragement,you can always listen to
Virginia's Home forEncouragement, wper.
Outside that area, you canlisten on the app.
Just download the WPER appwherever you get your favorite
apps you.