95. Trusting God when Plans Fall Apart: How to Walk with Jesus Through Disappointment

What do you do when your plans keep falling apart? When the dreams you prayed for unravel or the doors you were sure God opened suddenly slam shut? In today’s episode of Curious for Christ, I walk us through Luke 24 and the Emmaus Road—the sacred, in-between space where disappointment meets the presence of Jesus.

We explore how spiritual transformation often comes not in the fulfillment of our plans, but in the death of our expectations. Through honest reflection, personal stories, and biblical insight, you’ll be invited to see your disappointment not as the end—but as the beginning of resurrection.

In this episode, we talk about:
• How Jesus meets us in our confusion and pain
• The spiritual process of dying to old identities and dreams
• Why disappointment can be a doorway to deeper intimacy with God
• The importance of naming your emotions and engaging with Scripture
• What it means to walk the Emmaus Road in your own life

Scriptures Mentioned:
• Luke 24:12–49
• Isaiah 40:31
• Psalm references (David’s honest prayers)

Key Quote:
“Disappointment isn’t the end of your story—it’s where Jesus often shows up to walk with you, open your eyes, and set your heart on fire again.”

Resources & Next Steps:
• Listen to Episode 86: Healing, Emotion, and Renewal with God
• Share this episode with a friend who’s in a season of waiting or discouragement
• Leave a comment or DM Alexandra to share your story or ask for prayer

Rate & Review:
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Want to go deeper? Let's connect—set up a FREE Discovery Call today. See you next time!

Transcript

0:00

Welcome back to Curious For Christ. I'm so glad you're here. Whether you've been listening for a while or this is your first time, welcome. This is a space where I love to wrestle honestly with you, with life, with faith, and with the presence of Jesus in our everyday moments. I'm your host, Alexandra Alvarez, and today we are going to talk about something that hits deep. What do we do when our plans fall apart again and again and again and again? Maybe you've asked yourself, why bother dreaming or planning if it never works out anyways? Or, who am I to want more? Am I doing something wrong? If you felt like that, you're not alone. It just means you are human. I've been there too, especially in my finances, my work, even in the way I see myself, my parenting, I mean every area, quite honestly, of my life. In one of those hard seasons, as I sat with God and wrestled through my questions, he led me to Luke 24. It was actually sparked by a sermon I heard at church, and something in that passage stirred something deep in me. So let's read Luke 24 verses 12 through 49. Nothing like hearing the word of God that is living and active. My words are okay, but the word of God is truly life changing and dive into it. Welcome to Curious for Christ. Do you ever find yourself lying, awake at night wondering about God's plan for your life? Maybe you wake up with big dreams, but feel unsure where to start or what your next step should be. If you're curious about exploring your faith and finding purpose, then you've come to the right place. Hi, I'm Alexandra. I too felt lost and sure of the direction my life was taking. I yearned to understand my purpose and have someone guide me, but I kept telling myself I was too busy. The timing wasn't right, and my lack of clarity prevented me from being consistent until I found Christ. He brought peace into my life and revealed the way to find purpose by anchoring myself. In him. In this podcast, we'll journey together exploring the Bible to gain a deeper understanding of him and cultivate your own personal relationship with Christ. So open up your Bible, put in those earbuds and listen up because God is speaking to you. He's making everything new and you don't wanna miss it. Let's get started. Luke 24 verse 12. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb, bending over. He saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away wandering to himself What had happened now that same day, two of them were going to a village called a mouse, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussing things with each other, Jesus himself came and walked along with them, but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, what are you discussing together as you walk along? They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them named Cleopas asked him, are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days? What things he asked? About Jesus of Nazareth. They replied he was a prophet, powerful in word indeed before God. And all the people, the chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death. And they crucified him, but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more? It is this third day, since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus. He said to them, how foolish you are and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory. And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself as they approached the village to which they were going. Jesus continued on as if he were going father, but they urged him strongly. Stay with us. For it is nearly evening. The day is almost over. So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were open and they recognized him and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, we're not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the scriptures to us. They got up and returned it once to Jerusalem. There, they found the 11 and those with them assembled together and saying, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon. Then the two told what had happened on the way and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. While they were still talking about this. Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, peace be with you. They were startled and frightened thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, why are you troubled? And why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is. I myself, touch me and see a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see. I have when he said this, he showed them his hands and feet, and while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, do you have anything here to eat? They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate it in their presence, he said to them. This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled. That is written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures. He told them this is what is written. The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been closed with power from on high. In Luke 24, we find two disciples walking the road to a mouse. Jesus had just been crucified. Their whole world had fallen apart. The one they believed would save them, the one they gave everything for. There was no plan, B was dead. They're walking away from Jerusalem, confused and heartbroken, trying to make sense of it all. And here's the beautiful part. Jesus meets them on the road, but they didn't recognize him at first. He walks with them, listens, asks questions, and then reminds them of scriptures to show them what they couldn't see before they had misunderstood the plan. And eventually their eyes are open and they say. Weren't our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road? When we hear truth, we come alive. It's very clear. We're not doubting, we're not confused. We're no longer sad. We have passion within us. I have seen that same process in the disappointments I walk through. I've had contracts fall through dreams unravel. I've made plans that felt wise and prayed over only to watch them dissolve. And in those moments I'd find myself saying things like, what's the point? Maybe I'm not met for that kind of life. Maybe I'm just always going to fall short. That's who I am. But Luke 24 reminds me this appoint is not the end of the story. I am on the Amal Road. It's a process of death and resurrection. We can't overlook this moment. The Amal Road isn't just a story, it is a process. It's important to know where I am so that I can recognize it, embrace the process, move along with more ease and a burning in my heart, a passion knowing that I'm closer to Jesus than I thought. It is a spiritual pathway that many of us are walking through without realizing it. many of us are on this road, but fail to recognize it as a process. So we miss God and walk away too soon. This is a road where we either find Jesus again deeper, closer, or we see him for the first time. You see, disappointment has meaning and purpose only if we seek God and ultimately find him. So let me say this gently again. Your story is not over. Jesus is with you on the road in the confusion and in the silence, but we have to be willing to engage with him to open the Bible and let it reflect something back to us like Jesus invites them and asks in verse 19, what things. He already knows what it is that they are confused about or what happened. He already knows everything he's Jesus, but he asks because he's teaching us how to walk the road by processing, speaking, grieving, and naming what hurts, and then showing scripture again back as a mirror in a heart that is emptied. And ready to see and embrace God's plan. For instance, I've had prayers. Based on scripture, God's very own words. Isaiah 55 verses age through nine. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways. My ways declares the load. So I say, God, I know your ways are higher, but sometimes that just makes me feel like I'll never measure up. And God used that to show me something about myself, that there's still a part of me, a younger version. That's trying to prove I'm worth it somehow. I still believe I'll never measure up and I'm fighting with this and I wanna prove them, whomever that person was. I wanna prove them wrong so I can feel secure with it. So I can feel like I, I can earn this love. And then God whispered, you don't have to prove anything. You are already mine. That's when the resurrection starts. When we stay with God and we talk so that we can see what is truly in our heart. What is the belief that I'm still holding onto that is not of God? What is the plan that I think is gonna be God's plan but does not belong? That's when the resurrection starts, not because the situation changed. I'm still disappointed and still didn't happen the way I wanted. It to happen, but because I was changed, something old died, something new came alive. David is a great example of not holding back his feelings and he wrote many Psalms songs and prayers that started with, where are you? God, I can't see you. People wanna kill me and I'm here by myself. When will you come through for me? And then he ends his same Psalm, you are my God. I will never forsake you. You never forsake me. But that's the walk. So here's the process as I've experienced it, and the same way that these disciples also experienced, uh, on the road to a mao. Number one, there's a dream that is planted in your heart mostly from God. It is big. It is awesome. Number two, you pursue that dream with hope and amazement, and then three. It collapses. It's the end. It feels like the end, but it's not the end of the dream. It's the end of a version of yourself that God is inviting you to release on your way to the dream. And the truth is, the dream is great, but what you gain on your way to the dream is so much greater. It's God himself. So if your plants have fallen apart, it's not what you hoped for. If you feel like you're in a fog of confusion and disappointment, take heart. You're on the a mouse road, you're in the middle of the process, not the end of it. And Jesus is walking with you. He wants you to see him. Isaiah 40 verse 31 says, but those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. You are walking now, you will soar like an eagle. That's pretty awesome. So stick with God, wait on him. What's on the other side of your disappointment because you will soar above. Those seeming troubles and obstacles. They're not gonna be obstacles anymore. Not for God and not for you either. So also faith doesn't always look like confidence, right? It's okay if you're still in the middle of it and you have still a lot of feelings and emotions sometimes. Faith looks like honesty. Sometimes it looks like one more step forward in silence just to see what is in the the other side when things are almost dead in you. If you stay close to Jesus, if you let him open the scriptures and open your eyes, you will rise. You will walk in new vision, new strength, and new identity. So that's it for today. I hope this gave you some encouragement or at least a different way to view disappointment. It really isn't the end of it, it's just the process, and it's just part of us being human. So if this episode resonated with you, here's what I'd love for you to do. Number one, share this episode with a friend who's walking through this appointment. Someone who needs to know that this isn't the end, it's just the middle, just the process. Number two, leave a comment. If you're in a season like this, I'd love to pray for you or hear your story. And then lastly, go check out episode 86 of Cure for Christ. We dive into healing, releasing, and how God reshapes us in quite places. It's a nice companion to what we explore today. Until next time, my friend, keep walking, keep hoping and stay curious for Christ. Hi, I hope you enjoy today's episode. If so, would you like to take 30 seconds and share it with a friend who may also struggle with knowing God and his purpose for their life? Also, leave a review on Apple Podcast and let me know what topics you'd like to hear about in the future. Your voice matters. I'll meet you back next Friday. For another episode.