Let’s be honest.
Do you sometimes feel as if life and maybe even God has disappointed you?
We picture ideal scenarios for our lives, and sometimes (usually) our reality falls short of our hopes and expectations. Sometimes it’s our fault, and other times, despite our best efforts, life goes sideways. We end up feeling hurt, disappointed, and even betrayed by God. We know He is all powerful and can order the circumstances of our lives any way He chooses, so why this?
Why now?
Why me?
Filtering Our Thoughts
When we feel disappointed, it’s important to filter our thoughts through the truth of God’s Word. This doesn’t mean we pretend we’re not disappointed or hurt. God can handle our feelings—He gave us the ability to feel, remember? But in our feelings, we must speak truth to ourselves. Otherwise, we can grow bitter and cynical. Some even abandon the God who loves them because they feel as if He’s abandoned or wronged them.
Today, I’d like to invite you to name what has disappointed you. Maybe it’s an unfulfilled longing or prayer. Or a deep loss. Or a desire for something good and godly that you haven’t received.
Hold this hurt up to God. Talk to Him about it honestly and respectfully. Then ponder these six truths. Hold tightly to them when you’re tempted to think God doesn’t love you or doesn’t care.
I’m praying for you today, my friend.
Six Truths to Believe When We Feel Disappointed
- God has a plan for your life, and it is good.
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV).
Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind! (Psalm 31:19 ESV).
2. No plan of God’s can be thwarted.
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).
Remember what Jesus said to Martha in the aftermath of her brother’s death: “Did I not tell you, if you believed that you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). Death didn’t interrupt or derail God’s good plan for their family. Even in death, God has a purpose.
3. God can use what is bad for good.
Quadriplegic Joni Earekson Tada, commenting on her disability, quoted her pastor’s words: “God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves.”
“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those called according to His purposes” (Romans 8:28).
4. There are no mistakes in God’s kingdom.
God often uses tragedies and hardship to accomplish His most beautiful work. Consider the companion verse of Romans 8:28:
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be comformed to the likeness of his Son” (Romans 8:29).
Much of what happens in our lives is less about god accomplishing something with us and more about accomplishing something in us.
5. God’s “no’s” are love gifts.
Consider this quote from theologian O’Hallesby: “When God says yes, it’s because He loves us. When He says no, it’s because He loves us.”
6. Remember that this world is not all there is. There’s an eternity awaiting us when all will be made right and every sorrow cease.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
“These [trials] have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7).
“God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
If you’re struggling under a weight of sorrow and disappointment, tell Jesus.
Then allow Him to speak to you today through these verses. May His truth bring you comfort, hope, and faith.
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He (God) absolutely knows, hears, and responds to our hurts, fears, and yes, anger. When tragedy strikes, I have learned that my first reaction is to reach out to Him. My second is to seek His understanding as to what He has for me to learn, grow, or do as a result of what He has allowed to happen. That’s a most difficult thing to do in the midst of your hurting, but it is through my hurts that I learn the most valuable lessons in God’s kingdom. Thank you for this inspiring post.
You’re absolutely right, J.D. Responding in faith isn’t easy. It’s a reaction borne of trust and proving God’s faithfulness over and over. The more we trust God, the more we learn that He is trustworthy. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with the Refresh community today 🙂
Thanks for this, Lori. Sometimes it’s hard to understand God’s ways. Though I’ve been disappointed by some “no’s” to prayer requests, in time, I’ve been very thankful for others. God is good not to always give us what we want. 🙂 I’ve had to remind myself, too, that we’re not promised a happy, cozy life here–heaven comes later! Plus there are so many valuable things we learn through hard and painful times that we wouldn’t learn any other way.
Oh, my goodness, Barbara, are you right! We somehow forget that this world is only a temporary place while Jesus prepares the very best eternal home for us. Some of the greatest faith lessons I’ve learned have come in seasons of trial. I’m so glad God promises to walk with us every day until we see Him face to face. Thanks so much for reading and sharing today.