That tension is real, and it's something even faithful believers wrestle with. 

1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” That’s a reminder that God always hears, but His answers are shaped by something deeper than our desires; His perfect will. 

 Sometimes the answer is yes and the door opens wide. Other times it’s not yet, because He’s growing something in us before releasing it to us. And occasionally, the answer is no, not because He’s unkind, but because He sees the full picture. What we think will bless us might actually break us. What feels like a loss today might protect us tomorrow. 

 God’s love isn’t proven by how often He says yes. It’s proven by how deeply He stays present, even in the no. He’s not a vending machine. 

He’s a Father, and just like any good parent, He answers not based on what’s easiest, but on what’s best. That doesn’t always mean pain-free, but it does mean purposeful. 

 If you’re waiting on an answer or wrestling with one you didn’t want, bring that to Him. Be honest. He can handle it. He may not explain everything, but He’ll give you peace that goes deeper than understanding. 

 You can trust His heart even when you don’t understand His hand, because He’s good. Always. Even when the answer is different than you'd hoped. 

 You can write the Pastor at pastorbilly@findtruelife.com.