Waiting for the edits for my new book A Plan for Everything to come in, and taking a bit of a break. I reached into the archives for this post with the hope that it helps someone who's dealing with disappointment today.
According to Mr. Webster, to disappoint means “to fail
to satisfy the hope, desire, or expectation of.”
We speak of times of disappointment in sentences which begin with should have or could have.
We speak of times of disappointment in sentences which begin with should have or could have.
I’ve found disappointment to be one of the most finely
honed weapons in the enemy’s arsenal, because if we’re not watchful,
disappointment can lead to a root of bitterness which can quickly establish
itself in our lives. And bitterness is like a cancer, eating away all that’s
good.
When disappointment leaves me protesting, “I didn’t
know it was going to turn out like this,” I have to make a choice not to
embrace toxic thoughts by electing to replace those thoughts with God’s
word.
I keep coming back to this quote, “Can it be that, that
which seems to oppose the will of God actually is used of Him to accomplish the
will of God? That which seems evil only seems so because of perspective, the
way the eyes see the shadows. Above the clouds, light never stops shining.” —Ann
Voskamp
Often, faith only begins to flex its muscles in times when the
darkness settles in around us. Faith is “our handle on
what we can’t see” (Hebrews 11:5 The Message).
Even in times of great disappointment, through faith, we
can fix our eyes on Jesus. Whatever situation left our hopes, desires, and
expectations wanting, we trust will be used by Him for our good and His glory.
“…those who hope in me will not be disappointed”
(Isaiah 49:23).
“We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed
in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience
in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue,
keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as
this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round
up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives
through the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 5:3-5 The Message).
“And hope does not disappoint us…” (Romans 5:5).
(edited repost)