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About this Episode

Anna sits down with author Hope Johnson to talk about one of the hardest places to be as a believer — the unanswered prayer. Hope vulnerably shares her 20+ year journey of longing for marriage and family, and how that waiting has shaped her faith. Together they explore what it actually looks like to trust God when the answer hasn't come, how to quiet outside voices to hear His, and why our deepest desires aren't a sign He's forgotten us.

Key Takeaways

• God loved Lazarus — and stayed away anyway. His delays aren't indifference; they're often the setup for something of greater, eternal value.

• Rehearse God's promises daily. Watch the ratio of doomscrolling to Scripture time.

• Find a truth-telling buddy — someone who will sit with you all the way through the pain and then point you back to Jesus.

• Silence other voices for a season. Forum shopping (chasing everyone else's marching orders) pulls us away from what God is personally saying to us.

• Turning faith into a formula is a form of idolatry — treating God like a pagan deity who needs to be appeased rather than a Father who loves us.

• Two signs you're attuned to Him: the answer in your heart lines up with Scripture, and there's peace from the Holy Spirit — even if it doesn't make sense to others.

• You have not slipped through the cracks. He has not forgotten you.

Scriptures Referenced

• John 11:5–6, 45 — The raising of Lazarus; Jesus loved them, so he stayed away

• Hebrews 11:13 — Living by faith without seeing the promise fulfilled

• Isaiah 64:4 — No eye has seen what God does for those who wait on Him

• Philippians 3 — "Not that I have attained… but I press on"

• Joshua 1:9 — Be strong and courageous (two Hebrew words both meaning courage — grab hold, be transformed)

• Romans 14 — Each one acts before their own Master; the Lord will cause them to stand

• Job 38 — God speaks from the whirlwind: "Where were you?"

Books & Resources Mentioned

• 99 Life-Giving Bible Verses for Women by Hope Johnson (Whitaker House) - https://a.co/d/05NysYgw

• The Hope Unyielding Podcast — stories of God's faithfulness in hard seasons - https://open.spotify.com/show/04xlaY3lLpemh8MQxOwpRE

• Website - http://hopeunyielding.com

• "Even If" — MercyMe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y

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MUSIC CREDITS

Theme music: Brave New World

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Artist: Fantoms

Inspiring Hopeful

Audio source: Jamendo

Artist: Aliaksei Yukhnevich

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