Dealing With Disappointment

Many have set out to accomplish great things, but have been disappointed in the outcome. It is said that Alexander the Great wept because there were no more worlds to conquer. Alexander was disappointed. Hugo Grotius, the father of modern international law, said, “I have accomplished nothing worthwhile in my life.” Hugo was disappointed. This is the epitaph written by famed author Robert Louis Stevenson: “Here lies one who meant well, who tried a little, and failed much.” Stevenson was ultimately disappointed with his life. Cecil Rhodes opened up Africa and established an empire, but what were his dying words? “So little done, so much to do.” Rhodes was disappointed with his work.

We must be very careful. Disappointment can lead to discouragement, and discouragement can lead to depression. Depression can be dangerous; in fact, it is the number one cause for suicide. It all starts with disappointment.

In Ezra 3, the old men weep because they are disappointed at the rebuilding of the Temple. They remember how glorious the Temple was when Solomon was king; the rebuilt Temple was nice, but nowhere near as glorious. These people were living in the past and needed to come back to the present reality.

Let’s look at two important points concerning disappointment. Why does God allow disappointment in our lives, and what can we do to overcome it?

1. The Reason for Disappointment

Life is often filled with disappointments, even on a daily basis. It can be easy to question God and ask Him why all of these disappointments are happening, but the truth is, most of life’s disappointments happen because of ourselves or others. Many times we can be disappointed with someone; this is not God’s fault. Sometimes expectations are not met because of our carelessness or carelessness on the part of others.

But there are also times when we pray and ask God to take control, to fix a situation, to deal with something out of our control. We earnestly pray with faith. So when our expectations are not met, we are disappointed and end up asking God why. Why does God allow us to be disappointed? There are many reasons that we must consider.

--God is sovereign.

Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

--It was not God’s will to answer your prayer.

Ex: Paul and his thorn in the flesh (read II Cor. 12:7-10)

God knows what is best for us.

--God is teaching you to wait.

God will give you what you ask, but in His time.

Micah 7:7, “Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.”

Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

--Your faith in God was not genuine.

Jam. 1:6-7, “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

God has His reasons, but His intent is never to disappoint us. The fault is always with us, not the Lord. Ultimately, God will never disappoint. What is it that you’re disappointed about in your life right now? Consider these reasons, and ask yourself which one might apply to you.

3. The Remedy for Disappointment

In life, disappointment will happen. So what can we do to deal with it? There are two main ways to deal with disappointment:

--Stop focusing on the disappointment

When we are disappointed, we tend to focus on the disappointment; this leads to discouragement and depression. The best thing to do is to move on.

Despite their disappointment, the Jews needed to move on in repairing the Temple. There was no time to mope around; work had to be done. The best thing to do after a disappointment is to keep yourself busy. Life moves on, and you need to as well.

Ray Pritchard of Keep Believing Ministries has this to say about disappointment: “Don’t let your discouragement keep you from doing what you know you have to do. If you can’t keep your big promises, keep your small ones. If you can’t follow the big plan, follow the small one. If you can’t see ten steps into the future, then take two or three steps. Or just take the next step in front of you.”