We continue our Summer Playlist new sermon series by looking at the lyrics of songs and seeing what God may be saying to us through them. Today's song is Unanswered Prayers by Garth Brooks.

This song is a true story (for the most part) how Garth came across his old flame with his wife years later and he realized how thankful God did not answer his prayers the way he would have liked when he was young.

What were there things you prayed for growing up? Maybe that special person, to be popular, well liked, rich. Research shows that almost half of Americans pray daily. Prayer is a gift given by God to grow us in relationship with him. Prayer is an invitation to talk and listen with God.

What about the disappointment of unanswered prayer? Unanswered prayers can shake us to our core. The Bible is honest about unanswered prayer. Jesus even had unanswered prayer and still does (See John 17:20-21). Our passage today shows us three things to do with disappointment in prayer:

1) Choose to be vulnerable with your friends - Jesus took his three closest friends (Peter, James and John) and revealed his pain and struggle. Jesus didn't act as if it was all ok. He chose to be vulnerable.

When we are disappointed, we can tend toward self isolation. Jesus actively engaged his friends in his grief.

2) Choose to push into prayer - In Anguish, Jesus didn't retreat from God. Instead he referred to him as Abba or Daddy. He anchored himself in God's love. When you feel sad and brokenhearted, don't isolate yourself from God and his love.

3) Hold out for God's Power - Jesus said, "everything is possible for you." He believed God could act and grant him his request but he chose to surrender his life to God's care.

Are you dealing with any disappointments of unanswered prayer? If so, don't withdraw and isolate, go to God. Trust in God's love.