They're nothing new.We all faced them as a child. The things that disappoint us might be slightly different but they're still there. Our temper tantrums may have changed some, but let's admit it those are still there too.Big or small nobody likes disappointments.
I realize many of the disappoints we face are from our own bad choices but there are times when things just don't work out the way we hoped or anticipated and we have no idea why.It is in those moments that we realize we have no control. A scary reality to face for most people. But it is also in those moments that God can show us just how in control He really is.
The question is not will disappoints come our way but how will we react when they do?
Why God? Can often times be the only two words we can find in our vocabulary when disappointments hit.Maybe it's something w we've waited on him for and prayed our guts out for but then it didn't work out the way we thought, the way we desperately hoped it would. We've all been there. Like a Jackie Chan kick to the gut it feels like the ground has fallen out from under us.
I realize it's hard not to question God in those moments. Been there, done that.At times still find myself doing that. We look over the situation from every viewpoint wondering what we could have done differently. Thinking if we could just find the reason in the midst of the pain. But nothing sticks out leaving us thinking where's waldo just got real. But it doesn't really matter does it? Because the disappointment is already happening. We're already sprawled out on the floor fists pounding, legs kicking and screaming for our favorite blankie, so to speak.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but disappointments will continue to happen in our lives. To quote my favorite singer of all time,Frank Sinatra, "That's Life."
I know what you're thinking, thanks for the encouraging words Amber. Calm down, I'm not finished. We can't always keep the disappointments from coming but we can control how we react when they do.
Instead of asking "Why God?" We should start asking "What next God?" His answer will be different with everybody and with every situation but more often than not I bet it'll begin with two simple words:
Trust me.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:6"
Disappointments, while painfully hard to deal with sometimes are opportunities for God to act. For Him to reveal Himself to us in a way that we may not have otherwise experienced. In the moment we may not understand, it may not make a lick of sense.We may get angry at God or disappointed with Him. That's okay. He can handle it,I promise. And He won't love you any less because of it! Just be honest with Him. Be Real. He's looking for genuine relationships, not forced formalities.
We often think because God didn't answer our prayer how we wanted him to, when we wanted him to that it's just not going to happen.And it is then that our disappointments can cause a domino effect leaving our faith incredibly shaken not stirred.
It can be the hardest thing when in the midst of the confusing, disappointing heartbreak to say "God I don't understand why but I trust you."
But I can tell you from experience when you start to respond that way it's amazing how your outlook of what you deemed as disappointments can change. It doesn't always make them easier to endure but it does give you hope. He may not be saying no, he might just be saying not yet or I have something even better in mind for you.
"I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." Jeremiah 29:11
Over the last few years alone my husband and I have faced a lot of disappointments.Mostly stemming from my health and some I haven't even shared. But it was through each one that God not only made us stronger as a couple but brought us closer individually to Him. And the only way we could have gotten there was by disappointment only.
God has a plan. Always.Whether we see it, understand it or choose to believe it He is always at work in our lives. He can see every aspect of the blue prints, His timing is Perfect and his will unfailing. I know it's not easy but Trust him. Just take the word disappointment and change the 'd' to an 'h' and it becomes Hisappointment. One day you'll look back at what you thought were disappointments and realize they were really God's appointments to something better than you could ever have imagined.
No comments:
Post a Comment