disappointment……..We’ve all dealt with it…. It is no respecter of people, reputation, time, status, age or rank.
My own disappointments in life are many! One most recent disappointment was the resignation from a ministry partner. Julie and I have served together for many years in different capacities. She is one of my dearest friends and one of the chosen few in my life that sees the “good, bad and ugly!” Her God-given gifts and talents offset mine and like keeping the step of the gentle rhythm of a dance, we have a give-and-take relationship that requires very little explanation because we understand each other. As she moves on to the next thing God has called her to do, I feel a great disappointment and loss. Initially, I felt like having the foot-stomping melt-down that I have witnessed children having!! I wanted it my way!
It took me several days to process that Julie would no longer be by my side in ministry. I felt angry and frustrated with her. Admittedly, I felt a little angry towards God, too. After all, isn’t he supposed to know how valuable she is to the ministry and to ME?
As a pastoral care counselor, my days are filled with listening to the heart-wrenching disappointments shared by my clients. Failed relationships, health over-come by disease, economic dilemmas, out-of-control children, death of loved ones and on it goes. Disappointment comes packaged in many ways and many times is accompanied with loss.
So, why must we suffer these things that ultimately bring disappointment into our lives? I have no easy answer to that question. I can think of many things I might could say but don’t have the space nor time so, briefly, I will just say that without disappointment, we do not fully know the value of a thing. Disappointments add value to our lives for it is only when we are without do we fully realize the value of what we had. We are somehow forced to admit our own weakness when disappointed. God uses our disappointments to show us how much greater He is than what we are disappointed over. Never, in all of my many losses, have I looked back after a period of time and not seen God as bigger, greater and mightier than before the disappointment!
The dictionary defines disappointment as discouragement from the failures of ones dreams. I might want to add to that: but, a hopeful expectation of what is to be! I am learning that my disappointments are a gateway for God to come in and do the unexpected, and, a way for Him to show Himself strong in my behalf. Note that I wrote, “I am learning,” and as I learn through one disappointment at a time, I will be learning to walk a more humble walk knowing that the disappointments I face are filled with His grace and goodness. The losses will be replaced with a deeper relationship with the lover of my soul to which no earthly value can be given.
I encourage you to tell God about your disappointments (really now…he already knows them…..) and wait expectantly for Him to reveal to you the value of disappointment!
