--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Does God get what God wants? That’s a…" description: "\"“Does God get what God wants? That’s a good question. An interesting question. And it’s an important question that has given us much to discuss. But th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/rob-bell-1025_food-and-wine_does-god-get-what-god-wants-that-s-a-goo_1914092.jpg" --- # Does God get what God wants? That’s a good question. An… ![“Does God get what God wants? That’s a good question. An interesting question. And it’s an important question that has given us much to discuss. But there’s a better question. One that we actually can answer. One that takes all of the speculation about the future, which no one has been to and…” quote by Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/rob-bell-1025_food-and-wine_does-god-get-what-god-wants-that-s-a-goo_1914092.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/rob-bell-1025_food-and-wine_does-god-get-what-god-wants-that-s-a-goo_1914092.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ae8/rob-bell-1025_food-and-wine_does-god-get-what-god-wants-that-s-a-goo_1914092.jpg) > ““Does God get what God wants? That’s a good question. An interesting question. And it’s an important question that has given us much to discuss. But there’s a better question. One that we actually can answer. One that takes all of the speculation about the future, which no one has been to and returned with hard empirical evidence, and brings it back to one absolute we can depend on in the midst of all of this which turns out to be another question. It’s not, “Does God get what God wants?” but “Do we get what we want?” and the answer to that is a resounding, affirming, sure and certain yes. Yes, we get what we want, God is that loving. If we want isolation, despair, and the right to be our own god, God graciously grants us that option. If we insist on using our God-given power and strength to make the world in our own image, God allows us that freedom and we have that kind of license to do that. If we want nothing to do with light, love, hope, grace, and peace God respects that desire on our part and we are given a life free from any of those realities. The more we want nothing to do with what God is, the more distance and space is created. If we want nothing to do with love, we are given a reality free from love. If, however, we crave light, we’re drawn to truth, we’re desperate for grace, we’ve come to the end of our plots and schemes and we want someone else’s path, God gives us what we want. If we have this sense that we have wandered far from home and we want to return, God is there standing in the driveway arms open, ready to invite us in. If we thirst for Shalom and we long for the peace that transcends all understanding, God doesn’t just give, they are poured out on us lavishly, heaped until we are overwhelmed. It’s like a feast where the food and wine do not run out. These desires can start with the planting of an infinitesimally small seed in our heart, or a yearning for life to be better, or a gnawing sense that we are missing out, or an awareness that beyond the routine and grind of life there is something more, or the quiet hunch that this isn’t all there is. It often has it’s birth in the most unexpected ways, arising out of our need for something we know we do not have, for someone we know we are not. And to that, that impulse, craving, yearning, longing, desire God says, “Yes!”. Yes there is water for that thirst, food for that hunger, light for that darkness, relief for that burden. If we want hell, if we want heaven then they are ours. that’s how love works, it can’t be forced, manipulated, or coerced. It always leaves room for the other to decide. God says, “yes”, we can have what we want because love wins.”” [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker argues that God fulfills our deepest desires, whether good or bad, granting us freedom to shape our reality based on what we truly want. **In simple terms:** God gives us what we desire, even if it leads to negative outcomes. Key Takeaway Recognize the power of your desires and choose them wisely. Themes free will divine providence personal responsibility spiritual yearning Mood reflective hopeful serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - life decisions - seeking purpose - spiritual counseling Key Concepts theodicy human agency desire fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What desires are you consciously cultivating? - How do you differentiate between fleeting cravings and deeper purpose? A Different Perspective The claim overlooks that not all desires are consciously chosen; societal influences shape them. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food and wine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-and-wine/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-hope/) [Love Wins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-wins-2/) [Power and strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-and-strength/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Understanding god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-god/) ## Related quotes > [“If we want hell, if we want heaven, they are ours. That's how love works. It can't be forced, manipulated, or coerced. It always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-we-want-hell-if-we-want-heaven-they-are-ours-that-s-how-love-works/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Do we get what we want? Yes, we get what we want. God is that loving. If we want isolation, despair, and the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/do-we-get-what-we-want-yes-we-get-what-we-want-god-is-that-loving-if/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [“For Jesus the point is fruit. You’ll know people by their fruit, by their life, by how they actually live in the world. Lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/for-jesus-the-point-is-fruit-you-ll-know-people-by-their-fruit-by/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Love is what God is, love is why Jesus came, and love is why he continues to come, year after year to person after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/love-is-what-god-is-love-is-why-jesus-came-and-love-is-why-he/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [“And to that, that impulse, craving, yearning, longing, desire— God says yes. Yes, there is water for that thirst, food for that hunger, light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/and-to-that-that-impulse-craving-yearning-longing-desire-god-says-yes/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Just because you're 40, you don't have to decide whether God exists...when you're already worrying that the National Security Agency is reading your emails,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/just-because-you-re-40-you-don-t-have-to-decide-whether-god-exists/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [We don't get to decide who God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/we-don-t-get-to-decide-who-god-is/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [It is your right to choose. It is not right to choose wrong! What's right and wrong is not for you to decide. God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-your-right-to-choose-it-is-not-right-to-choose-wrong-what-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men get together in pretentious councils to decide what God is, what God thinks, what God wants the rest of us to do for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-g-walker/men-get-together-in-pretentious-councils-to-decide-what-god-is-what/) [Barbara G. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-g-walker/) > [The giant step in the walk of faith is the one we take when we decide God no longer is a part of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/the-giant-step-in-the-walk-of-faith-is-the-one-we-take-when-we-decide/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [I'm not there to impose my religious beliefs on anybody, or say 'this is the only way you should think'. It's up to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hood/i-m-not-there-to-impose-my-religious-beliefs-on-anybody-or-say-this/) [Robert Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hood/) > [“This is a quote from C. S. Lewis. It helped me a lot when I was trying to decide God's will fro me when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-jones-gunn/this-is-a-quote-from-c-s-lewis-it-helped-me-a-lot-when-i-was-trying/) [Robin Jones Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-jones-gunn/) > [As we're growing closer to God, I ask people to decide when God wants them to stay planted exactly where they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/as-we-re-growing-closer-to-god-i-ask-people-to-decide-when-god-wants/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [When you have learned how to decide with God all decisions become as easy and as right as breathing. There is no effort and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-schucman/when-you-have-learned-how-to-decide-with-god-all-decisions-become-as/) [Helen Schucman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-schucman/) > [“Child," she said placing her head to mine and her callused fingers on my cheek, "you can whip it and beat it senseless, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-martin/child-she-said-placing-her-head-to-mine-and-her-callused-fingers-on/) [Charles Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-martin/) ## More by Rob Bell > [If the gospel isn't good news for everybody, then it isn't good news for anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bell/if-the-gospel-isn-t-good-news-for-everybody-then-it-isn-t-good-news/) [Rob Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bell/) > [Why blame the dark for being dark? 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One that takes all of the speculation about the future, which no one has been to and returned with hard empirical evidence, and brings it back to one absolute we can depend on in the midst of all of this which turns out to be another question. It’s not, “Does God get what God wants?” but “Do we get what we want?” and the answer to that is a resounding, affirming, sure and certain yes. Yes, we get what we want, God is that loving. If we want isolation, despair, and the right to be our own god, God graciously grants us that option. If we insist on using our God-given power and strength to make the world in our own image, God allows us that freedom and we have that kind of license to do that. If we want nothing to do with light, love, hope, grace, and peace God respects that desire on our part and we are given a life free from any of those realities. The more we want nothing to do with what God is, the more distance and space is created. If we want nothing to do with love, we are given a reality free from love. If, however, we crave light, we’re drawn to truth, we’re desperate for grace, we’ve come to the end of our plots and schemes and we want someone else’s path, God gives us what we want. If we have this sense that we have wandered far from home and we want to return, God is there standing in the driveway arms open, ready to invite us in. If we thirst for Shalom and we long for the peace that transcends all understanding, God doesn’t just give, they are poured out on us lavishly, heaped until we are overwhelmed. It’s like a feast where the food and wine do not run out. These desires can start with the planting of an infinitesimally small seed in our heart, or a yearning for life to be better, or a gnawing sense that we are missing out, or an awareness that beyond the routine and grind of life there is something more, or the quiet hunch that this isn’t all there is. It often has it’s birth in the most unexpected ways, arising out of our need for something we know we do not have, for someone we know we are not. And to that, that impulse, craving, yearning, longing, desire God says, “Yes!”. Yes there is water for that thirst, food for that hunger, light for that darkness, relief for that burden. If we want hell, if we want heaven then they are ours. that’s how love works, it can’t be forced, manipulated, or coerced. It always leaves room for the other to decide. 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