We’ve all been there right? 

 

We have a high expectation for something, someone, or some place. Only to have the experience fail to live up to the expectation!

 

That gap is called “disappointment”.

 

Disappointment is a normal part of our lives. We each have to deal with it at some point. 

 

For some disappointment comes in waves of external things. For others, they have found themselves disappointed at things that are festering internally.

 

All in all, disappointment, although can be devastating, it does not have to be destructive.

 

When we look at the scriptures in the Bible like James 1:2-3 “Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.”

 

Or Sayings of Jesus like, “ I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]” (John 16:33 AMPC)

 

As we hear and read these scriptures, we have to be careful observers of what powerful principle Father God is presenting through His Word, which is this…

 

“Every situation you face will afford you the opportunity to make a decision on how you are going to respond..in your feelings, fear, or faith and confidence in my plan!”

 

Response is everything. 

 

When disappointment (emphasis on WHEN) happens, we have the ability to react or respond.

 

In a nutshell, reacting is emotional, erratic,  back and forth, up and down, it cannot be trusted to bring about a favorable or positive solution.

 

Response deals with maturity, training, and past victories over shortcomings.  The result of response is level headed, clear hearted, and Godly perspective decision making. 

 

Still hurtful, yes, but less destructive than reacting.

 

When I have been disappointed on my journey as I experienced broken and failed relationships, misunderstanding of motives,  or less than grand launch of a project, and the list could go on,  I tend to respond to the hurt in my heart with prayer, worship, and the Word.

 

These three are what I call the “three agents of healing”.

 

They will work, if you work them.

 

So, as disappointments arise in your life, don’t react, RESPOND!

 

Your response with Prayer, Worship, and The Word will Make way in your heart for God’s Grace, His Peace, and His Voice to lead you through to your victory!

So here are some best practices when disappointments happen:

1. Pray IMMEDIATELY – This will submit your will to God’s
2. Forgive IMMEDIATELY – remember, forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling. (You dont have to “FEEL” like forgiving just as much as you don’t feel like going to wrk, but you do because you know it is beneficial to your livlihood. It’s the same with forgiveness. It is BENEFICIAL to your livelihood of faith. (Mark 11:22-26)
3. THINK clearly – Take the time to acertain if there was something YOU contributed to the disappointent (misunderstanding of motive, wrong interpretation, unclear boundaries or explainations) and take 100% responsibility for it.
4. ASK for assistance – Never suffer in silence. WE WERE MADE FOR ONE ANOTHER! (Read that again!) Men often isolate during disappointment. It is okay to INVITE someone into your head and heart space to help you navigate the disappointment.
5. THANK God for HIS Grace – 2 Corinthians 12 details Paul’s experience with disappointment in the form of persecutions. He writes, ” Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.…” (2 Corinthains 12:8-10)
6. Receive God’s PEACE – Philippians 4:6-8 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
7. Walk in CONFIDENCE – Knowing that you have casted this disappointment on the Lord, along with your cares, concerns, heartbreak, and embarrasment, and HE will KEEP YOU in His Peace! Your Confidence has a REWARD Attached to it!

Again, disappointments are inevitable, however, they do not have to be destructive, you will make it THROUGH THIS!

Let’s GROW together!

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! How have you reacted in times last, was it beneficial? How have you properly responded to disappointments? 

 

Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments!

 

PT

Take a Look at this message on this very idea I did, last year and 40lbs ago ?