Introduction

Good morning, dear family in Christ. We're gathered here today, not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters united in our shared love for our Lord Jesus Christ. As we open our hearts and minds to the Word of God, let us remember that we are not alone in our struggles, our disappointments, our discouragements, and even our disasters. We are bound together by the love of Christ and the fellowship of believers.

In the words of the eminent Christian preacher Charles Spurgeon, "Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil and let us see what we are made of." Indeed, our disappointments and discouragements can feel like trials digging into the soil of our lives. But remember, dear family, that soil is not barren. It is fertile ground, ripe for the planting of seeds of faith that can grow into a bountiful harvest of spiritual fruit.

Today, we'll turn our attention to the Gospel of Mark, chapter 8, verses 17-19. Let's read together:

"Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: 'Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?' 'Twelve,' they replied."

Let's bow our heads in prayer.

Dissecting Disappointments

In the passage we've read, we find the disciples in a state of confusion and worry. They're on a boat with Jesus, and they've forgotten to bring bread. This might seem like a small oversight to us, but to them, it was a significant problem. They were probably hungry, tired, and unsure of when they would next have a chance to eat. In their minds, they were facing a real disappointment.

But Jesus, seeing their worry, challenges them. He asks them why they're so concerned about bread. He reminds them of a time when He fed five thousand people with just five loaves. He's trying to show them that their disappointment - their lack of bread - is not as big a problem as they think it is.

This is the first thing we need to understand when we're dissecting our disappointments. Often, the things that disappoint us are not as significant as we make them out to be. We get so caught up in our own worries and fears that we lose sight of the bigger picture. We forget about the times when God has provided for us in the past, and we start to doubt His ability to provide for us in the future.

This brings us to the second aspect of dissecting disappointments. When we're faced with disappointment, we need to remember God's faithfulness. The disciples had seen Jesus perform a miracle with the loaves and fishes. They had seen Him provide for them in a miraculous way. But in the moment of their disappointment, they forgot about all of that. They let their current situation cloud their memory of God's faithfulness.

We do the same thing. When we're faced with disappointment, we forget about all the times when God has been faithful to us. We forget about the times when He's provided for us, comforted us, and guided us. We let our disappointment overshadow God's faithfulness.

The third aspect of dissecting disappointments is understanding that God uses our disappointments to teach us and to grow us. In the passage, Jesus uses the disciples' disappointment to teach them about faith and trust. He uses their lack of bread to remind them of His power and His provision.

In the same way, God uses our disappointments to teach us. He uses our disappointments to show us where we're lacking in faith, where we're relying on our own strength instead of His, and where we need to grow. Our disappointments are not just problems to be solved; they're opportunities for growth and learning.

The final aspect of dissecting disappointments is recognizing that God is in control, even when we're disappointed. In the passage, Jesus is in control of the situation. He knows that the disciples are worried about bread, and He uses that worry to teach them a valuable lesson.

In our lives, God is in control of our disappointments. He knows when we're disappointed, and He uses those disappointments to teach us, to grow us, and to draw us closer to Him. Even when we're disappointed, God is working for our good.

So, when we're faced with disappointment, let's remember these four things. Let's remember that our disappointments are not as big as we make them out to be. Let's remember God's faithfulness. Let's see our disappointments as opportunities for growth. And let's remember that God is in control, even when we're disappointed.

Discerning Discouragements

As we move forward, we find ourselves in the midst of discerning discouragements ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO