When God’s Answer Isn’t What You Expected
Have you ever prayed for something with all your heart, believing it was the right thing, only to have God answer in a way that left you confused or disappointed? It’s a common experience for those of us who try to align our desires with God’s will, only to discover that His plans often look quite different from what we envisioned.
The people of Jerusalem had a moment like this when Jesus entered the city for the last time. They greeted Him with shouts of joy, crying out, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” (Mark 11:10). In their minds, this was the moment they had been waiting for—the Messiah was here, ready to overthrow Roman rule and restore the glory of Israel.
But what happened next was far from what they had hoped. Instead of leading a rebellion, Jesus went to the temple and turned over the tables of the money changers. This act didn’t bring liberation from Roman oppression. Instead, it called attention to their own need for spiritual cleansing. Disillusioned and angry, the same crowd that welcomed Him with palm branches and hosannas would later demand His crucifixion.
Why did they react this way? Perhaps it was because their focus was on changing their external circumstances rather than their internal reality. They believed that removing Roman rule would allow them to serve God more faithfully, but they missed the deeper truth: to serve God as He desires, they didn’t need a new government—they needed transformed hearts.
When My Plans Weren’t God’s
I had a similar experience as a young person with big dreams for my life. I felt called to ministry and envisioned myself pastoring a large church, preaching to thousands, and leading countless people to Christ. It seemed like the ultimate way to glorify God, and I was convinced it was what He wanted for me.
I even asked my youth pastor to pray for this vision to come to pass. But instead of praying for God to fulfill my specific desire, he prayed something unexpected. He asked God to use me in whatever way would bring Him the most glory—even if that meant a path I hadn’t considered, like serving the marginalized in a quiet, unseen way. I remember feeling uneasy as he prayed, almost as if I wanted to interrupt him and say, “That’s not what I meant!”
Years later, when I did enter ministry, God’s answer to my prayer looked nothing like I had imagined. Instead of standing on a stage in a large church, I found myself working in a rescue mission, serving the homeless. At first, it seemed like a detour from my original dream. But over time, I discovered something surprising: I was happier than I ever thought possible. The joy of seeing lives transformed through simple acts of compassion and care far surpassed the fulfillment I thought I would find in a more public role.
God’s Plans and Our Hearts
Looking back, I can see that God used this unexpected path to reveal things about my heart. While my desire to preach and lead seemed godly on the surface, it was wrapped in pride and self-interest. I wanted to be seen and admired for doing God’s work. Like the people of Jerusalem, I wanted God to serve my will rather than submitting myself fully to His.
When things don’t go as we hope, it’s worth asking some tough questions:
What is God teaching me in this situation?
Are my seemingly godly desires masking deeper, sinful motives?
Does God have a better path for me than the one I’ve planned?
In my experience, the answer to these questions is often yes. God is always teaching us, even through disappointment. He uses these moments to refine our character, to reveal our true desires, and to draw us closer to Him.
God Wants You More Than Your Plans
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that God is far more interested in transforming our hearts than in fulfilling our plans. He could easily give us the outcomes we desire, but He knows that even good outcomes can sometimes hide our true motives or lead us away from Him.
If you’re facing a situation where God’s answer doesn’t match your expectations, take heart. He is providentially in control, and His plans are always better than ours. He is willing to trade our temporary disappointment for something far greater: a deeper relationship with Him and a heart that truly seeks His glory.
So the next time you’re tempted to say, “That’s not what I prayed for,” remember this: God’s “no” or “not yet” is never a rejection but an invitation to trust Him more fully. He doesn’t just want to give you what you want—He wants to give you Himself.
And in the end, that’s the greatest gift of all.
