Pressing On Through Disappointment

Disappointment is as much a part of anyone’s life as is laughter, tears, success, and failure.  We all experience such feelings.  Even so, knowing that others have been through what we may be experiencing at any given moment, does not necessarily comfort us at the time.

Disappointment is a hungry emotion.  It yearns to feed itself on resentment, anger, jealousy, and loathing.  The strange thing is:  as much as any one of us hates being disappointed, we are the very ones who feed it, helping it to grow bigger and stronger, festering into total “down in the pits” syndrome, and possible depression.

What can we do when we become disappointed with a friendship that didn’t last, or a spouse that was unfaithful, or a church that split over difference of opinion?  What can we do when we become disappointed over a failed business venture, or a plan that turned totally upside down?  What can we do when we are disappointed with loneliness that won’t subside?

Furthermore, what can we do when we become disappointed with God?  Have you ever felt like you really knew what God wanted you to do in life — but it never happened?  Have you felt you were certain about God leading you in a particular direction — but it was a road that led to nowhere?  Have you asked “in Jesus’ name” for something in particular to happen — but it never took place?

Yes, these situations and feelings come to us all.  What in the world can we do?  Well, first of all,  let’s quit asking that question,  because  “the world”  can’t help us.  There is nothing  “in the world”  that can give us any amount of joy that compares to what our Father can give to us.  The question, to begin to lead us out of disappointment, must always be — What, with God’s help, can we do?

When we ask what the world can do, we naturally begin looking to worldly remedies and philosophies;  but, when we ask,  what can Father do to help us,  we begin to look in the right direction.  We begin to look at God who never makes a mistake.  We look into the heart of loving Father, who longs to comfort and hold us close.  Even if the disappointment is with Him, over something we just don’t understand, looking to Him, into His love and truth, opens our own heart to receive His healing pouring into our brokenness.

When we feed our minds with God’s truth, and let His love seep into our wounded hearts, it’s a guaranteed remedy to restore our joy.  Feeding disappointment will never restore anything positive.  Apostle Paul understood this very well when he encouraged the church with these words found in Philippians 4:8, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

It is only as we feed our minds with the positive things of God, rather than the pessimistic thoughts that come with disappointment, that we find a way out of those doldrums that come to us all.