Disappointment

Topic: Hope

Focus: Disappointment

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NKJV) But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard; nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

When disappointment takes you down, it shows. You have suffered some losses and you feel the weight of it, don’t you? It’s like your shoulders aren’t as straight as they usually are and you have to remind yourself to straighten your back—because you just feel this load pressing down on you—and it’s heavy. You’ve had to put on a happy face to please those who either don’t know—or don’t care. And you wonder how you can keep going when it hurts so bad.

All of the victories you’ve experienced—the progress you’ve made—just doesn’t seem like much to you at the moment. Because you’ve had this hard hit. You know all of the classic things you should say to yourself to get through. Any words you might say, you’ve already heard so many times, it seems. And yet nothing you’ve heard or could say seems like enough to cover the void. You can’t imagine how anything good could come out of such pain. How could it?

Disappointment like this is a melancholy kind of pain. It makes you as vulnerable as a little child again. Misunderstood, misjudged, and mistaken. It’s a sad song kind of feeling. A measure of introspection and contemplation is good. Any loss this big is worth the time spent going over the details and the memories. You need to do some of that. It’s part of grieving. You can’t get around it—and you wouldn’t want to. Take your time. Savor the sweetness.

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As you can, try to remember how deeply God cherishes you. He doesn’t like to see you hurting so much—but He loves the person you are becoming. He is so proud of the feelings you have and the pain you are able to feel. There was a time when you didn’t have the capacity to love like you are able to now. Your ability to care has increased by amazing proportions. Although heartbreaking, this loss is deepening your character even more. You can hold that thought in your mind and know that certain kinds of growth are only made possible by loss.

God knows you want to grow. He wants to help you become the person you desire to be. It takes a broad spectrum of experiences to forge His impression on us—and some of that forging is being accomplished in you today. You have that to be confident of and grateful for.

You have learned to trust the One who made you and is continuing to shape you. He doesn’t enjoy seeing you suffer—but He appreciates how you have given yourself to Him so unreservedly—to do with as He pleases. Don’t underestimate His compassion for you at this moment. His heart breaks with yours. He is One with you. He wants you to draw all you can from this experience and learn all you can learn. You shouldn’t miss one moment of quiet reflection. His hand is in yours. He waits with you in your sorrow. He shares the knowledge of what this means to you. He is there. Lean on Him. Rest in Him. Experience His concern and comfort. He is not taking this lightly, either.

He has chosen you for special things. He has a purpose for you that is completely unique. No one else has the exact calling you have. No one else can do what He has in mind for you to do. He has great plans. Plans you can’t possibly perceive.

In a time of disappointment, it’s easy to lower your level of expectation. It’s easy to assume that maybe you weren’t meant for greatness after all…because you feel so low. In moments like these, your mind can play tricks on you and the enemy of your soul can whisper words that would make you think it wouldn’t be so bad if you just took a little break and maybe stepped off the path temporarily. Don’t fall for that line. Don’t give him back one inch of the progress you’ve made. He doesn’t deserve it.

You keep moving forward. You keep pressing on. Keep knowing there is more light just ahead. This darkness is not going to last. In fact, you are on the verge of a great discovery. You are just around the corner from new revelation and new victory that will carry you the rest of the way. It is so much more than you ever thought. Your mind’s eye has not even begun to see what God sees when He looks at you. Every positive word that has ever been said about you doesn’t begin to compare with what He, Himself has to say. You might have thought you knew what He was doing—but in your wildest dreams you can’t imagine what He is about to do. So, stand fast. Hold your head high. You are His and He is yours. Nothing can change that. Nothing.

Declaration: I will find new strength as I share my suffering with the One who knows me better than anyone. I will continue to put my trust in God who has made me tender and willing to be shaped into His image. I will keep my eyes, ears, and heart trained on Him with great expectation of the wonders yet to be revealed.