Episode 122: God never answered my prayer

Aug 16, 2026 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

You may be wondering how the topic, ‘God never answered my prayer,’ relates to hearing God. Heaps. When we become disappointed with God because He never answered our prayer, it impacts our willingness, openness, and ability to hear God. Join us as we unpack this topic, share personal examples, and bring wisdom in this area.

Episode Notes:

Our experience:

  • Jane’s experience of Ruth dying, her mum dying, and infertility.
  • Gary’s experience with disappointment, especially around career changes.
  • Disappointment with God – unmet expectations, when something we have hoped for, prayed for, expected didn’t occur. Sometimes we can put up walls of protection to prevent further hurt. This can become a blockage to hearing God.
  • Be honest. Don’t become offended with God. Don’t let bitterness begin.
  • Practice gratitude.
  • Anchor myself in the promises of God. God’s truth, not my experience.
  • Episode 21: Hearing God when God is silent.
  • Episode 17: When I thought I heard God, but it didn’t come true.

First Principle: Deal with your disappointment.

  • Forgive. Then change your thinking.
  • Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” The Message version: “Unrelenting disappointment leaves your heart sick.”
  • Don’t critique God. Lean into Him. Now is not the time to pull away from God. Don’t allow the enemy to fester disappointment, offence, and bitterness.
  • Psalm 34:18 “The Lordis close/near to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” The Message version: “If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.”
  • Psalm 27:13-14 “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lordin the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”
  • Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
  • Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
  • Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The Message version – “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
  • Psalm 34:1 “I will praise the Lord at all times.”
  • Just because we’ve experienced disappointment does not mean that God’s character has changed.

Second Principle: Accept the mystery.

  • Life’s not fair. Accept it.
  • God’s character hasn’t changed because we’ve experienced loss. In his sermon several days after his wife died of cancer, Bill Johnson said, “God doesn’t owe us an explanation.”
  • We can be so busy asking God why that we don’t listen to what He is saying.
  • It’s not helpful to ask God ‘why’. Accept the mystery. Job in the Bible – God never gives him an answer to why. Instead, “I’m God, and you’re not”. Sometimes that has to be enough.
  • God’s not a fairy godmother who will fix everything.
  • We are not called to live an easy life. Luke 9:23 – we are called to deny ourselves and follow Christ.
  • Saw a quote – “Be so rooted in God’s love that even disappointment feels like divine protection.” @jenessawait (IG)

Third Principle: Move forward.

  • Can I say, “I still keep showing up”? “I still want to hear God”. This becomes my new normal.
  • Our purpose in life is not to reach a destination but in the journey.
  • Don’t be like the Israelites in the wilderness, whinging about everything despite seeing God turn up and do miracle after miracle. Be thankful, obedient and faithful.
  • Practice gratitude.
  • Isaiah 60:18 “No longer will violence be heard in your land nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates, praise.” We give God praise.
  • Psalm 100:4 – Enter God’s courts with thanksgiving and praise.

Summary:

  1. Deal with your disappointment.
  2. Accept the mystery.
  3. Move forward.

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him:

  • “God, can You please show me any areas in my life or my thoughts that are not in agreement with You, Lord?”
  • “God, are there any walls of protection I’ve built in my life, or any bitter roots I’ve allowed to develop from past hurts?”
  • “God, is there anyone I need to forgive?” (Maybe even yourself. If a person immediately comes to mind, take that as a sign that forgiveness is still required.)

Time Stamps:

[0:45] – Gary & Jane share how they have heard God this week.

[5:38] – Gary & Jane’s experience.

[10:22] – First Principle: Deal with your disappointment.

[13:40] – Second Principle: Accept the mystery.

[16:44] – Third Principle: Move forward.

[18:50] – Summary

[19:10] – Prophetic activation.

[20:45] – Gary & Jane share a prophetic word for a listener.

[22:43] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Ruth
  • Proverbs 13:12
  • Psalm 34:18
  • Psalm 27:13-14
  • Romans 8:28
  • Hebrews 10:23
  • Romans 12:2
  • Psalm 34:1
  • Luke 9:23
  • Job
  • Isaiah 60:18
  • Psalm 100:4
  • Joshua1:6-9

Connect with Gary & Jane:

Support the show:

  • Please share this podcast with someone who would value hearing from God.
  • Follow and leave a rating + review on your favourite podcast listening app.
  • If God is leading you to donate or support the show in any way, please visit https://buymeacoffee/garyandjanM Thank you so much.
0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *