Faith is easy when God says “yes.” When He opens doors, grants our desires, and works things out just as we prayed, our trust in Him feels natural and effortless.

But what about when God says “no”?

What about when He doesn’t bring to pass what we believed for, even when we had all the faith in the world?

There’s a Misconception About What Faith Really Is

There’s a dangerous misconception among many believers about what faith truly is. Some view faith as a tool to get what they want from God rather than as trust in God’s perfect will. This misunderstanding can lead to deep frustration and disappointment when things don’t go as expected.

When we don’t align our understanding of faith with what is clearly written and demonstrated in the Word of God, we can journey through seasons of life carrying bitterness, unforgiveness, and resentment—not just toward others, but toward God Himself.

These are hinderances to our worship. If you realize this is in your heart deal with it immediately.

All of this stems from one simple but destructive word: entitlement — a form of pride.

Faith is Not Entitlement

Many believe that because they pray, live righteously, and trust God, they are entitled to a certain outcome. While God is good and rewards faithfulness, we must remember that God is not obligated to fulfill our every desire simply because we ask. Faith does not mean demanding our way—it means trusting God’s way is always better, even when we don’t understand it.

• Romans 9:20-21 (ESV) – “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the potter no right over the clay…?”

• Job 1:21 (ESV) – “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job understood that everything he had was given by God, and everything God allowed was within His sovereign right. He refused to see himself as entitled to a life free of hardship, which allowed him to worship God even in suffering.

Entitlement Breeds Resentment

When we expect God to move a certain way and He doesn’t, the enemy plants seeds of doubt in our hearts. Instead of seeing God as loving and sovereign, we can start to see Him as distant, uncaring, or even unfair.

This entitlement can also affect how we treat others. We may feel resentful toward those who seem to receive the blessings we prayed for, leading to jealousy and division. This is why it is crucial to align our understanding of faith with the Word of God.

• James 4:3 (ESV) – “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”

• Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Who is God, and Why Can We Trust Him?

1. God is Sovereign – He is Always in Control

• Isaiah 46:9-10 (ESV) – “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’”

2. God is Good – Even When Life Doesn’t Feel Good

• Psalm 119:68 (ESV) – “You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.”

3. God is Faithful – He Never Fails His Children

• Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

4. God is Wise – He Sees What We Cannot See

• Romans 11:33 (ESV) – “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”

Examples of Real Faith in the Bible

We see people in the Bible who displayed faith in God’s character, even when their circumstances were painful:

• Job – “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15, ESV). Job didn’t trust in God just for blessings—he trusted in who God is, even in suffering.

• Habakkuk – “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” – Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV)

• Jesus on the Cross – “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” – Luke 23:46 (ESV). Jesus showed the ultimate trust in God’s plan, even when it led to suffering.

How Do We Cultivate Real Faith?

1. Shift Your Focus from Outcomes to God’s Character

2. Pray for Trust, Not Just for Answers

3. Remember God’s Faithfulness in the Past

4. Hold on to God’s Promises, Not Just Your Desire

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Faith in the Yes and the No

Real faith is not just trusting that God will say yes, work things out in our favor, and bring our prayers to pass. It’s also trusting Him when He says no. It’s believing that even when life doesn’t go according to our plans, God’s character remains the same—He is still good, still sovereign, still faithful, and still wise.

Faith is believing that whatever He allows is ultimately for our good and His glory. Whether the answer is yes or no, may our hearts always declare:

“God, I trust You—not just because of what You do, but because of who You are.”