Why disappointments are necessary

Unfulfilled plans, unmet expectations, unexpected turn of events, whatever the circumstance is, for as long as it did not turn out the way you want it to be, it will surely leave you disappointed. Even the greatest men in the bible had them-- Joseph, Moses, Jonah, Abraham, Isaac. These men were disappointed just like the rest of us. I too, have many of them, so much more than I can count. And what I experienced the other day was an addition to my list.

So I received a call from a friend sharing to me a news that I was not exactly happy about. My spirit was down and I was really really disappointed. But while talking to her, she told me not to let this disappointment discourage me from moving forward. However, I can't. I just can't. Too hard for me to find an encouragement from what I heard. But then again, I let my heart keep still and prayed. When I did, I realized I can rehearse what happened in my head and let my emotions drag me down, or I can rehearse God's promises and find comfort and security that He is in control.

God rewards our attitude ; most especially our gratitude

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

One of the things that I learned from my walk with the Lord is to always have a grateful heart. And when I say always, it means even when things don't go the way I want. Yesterday, when I was discouraged from the news that I heard, in the middle of my thinking, I remembered that I should reflect a heart of gratitude, because there is power in it. There are times, when its just a sacrifice to praise but when we do, God is honored. When we do, God delights in our praises. I learned that when things go the wrong way, then I should praise my God louder. By doing so allowed me to see that things are not as bad as they seem. I have a family, a comfortable home, I have a nephew whom I love so much and I have a job that I enjoy doing. Not so bad, right? by rehearsing this in my head, I thought "well yeah, God said He will never leave me nor forsake me, and there are just so many things to be thankful for than not be happy about." And I believe, whatever attitude I planted today, I'm sure I will reap them in the future.

God is preparing you for greater things

"However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him--" (1 cor 2:9)

More often than not, when God wants to give us a bigger blessing, He prepares us by allowing us to experience a series of failures and discouragements first. Why? because there are things which we couldn't have learned the other way, and I'm sure you would agree with me when I say that we learn more when we fail. Would you persevere if you did not fail? No. Would you know the things to avoid in doing business if you have not failed? No. Would you know how to find joy despite the situation if you did not go through a time of discouragements? No. Bigger blessing also means a bigger responsibility, and disappointments are training grounds. And though painful, it is necessary for us to experience these things so from it we can learn, mature and prepare us for bigger things to come.

God wants you to depend on Him and not to yourself

"..in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)

Disappointment is God's ways of getting your attention. It reminds us that somethings are out of our control and thus we are in need of a higher being who is in always in charge; that's why He needs to be involved. One of the mistakes people make is to depend too much on themselves. When I was a young Christian, I had to learn this many times because I was raised in a world where people believe that we can always take hold of things and make them go our way. And God had to remind me ALL THE TIME that i'm not the one in control, and depending on myself will only leave me frustrated and disappointed. So whenever there's a decision that I need to do or steps that I need to make, I always include Jesus in the process. Fervently praying and seeking wisdom from His word, the bible. And when disappointments come, I ask "what do you want me to learn and what do you want me to do Lord?" doing this will change us from being self-dependent to God-dependent. It keeps us in a place of humility and dependency on Him, as we recognize how much we need His help.

When God delays, its a test of character

Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph's character. (Psalm 105:19)

People feel disappointed when they feel that their prayers are not heard and most especially not answered. But delays are not always denials, most of the time they are just a test of character. You see, God is more concerned in changing our character than answering our prayers. Take Joseph for example. He had a dream (a literal one) that he will someday be great that all people will be under his ruling. He was sure God destined him to be great, but for a time, he went through a series of testing. He was sold by his own brothers, imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, and when he helped a cupbearer in interpreting his dream, he only had one request: to remember him, mention him to the Pharaoh so he'll be freed. Yet he forgot about him and left him in prison. I'm sure he has all the right to throw tantrums, complain and grumble given the situation. But he stood still, and trusted the God that he serves; in the end, Joseph became one of the greatest men in Egypt, just as what God promised him to be.

Someday, your testimony will be a great story to tell

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up..." (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Many times in the past, I was able to minister to other people because the story of their life is not very different from mine. Right after the day I received that bad news, my sister called me because she too, had a disappointing moment. Coincidence? I guess not. God always designs situations like that, He makes our stories familiar to other people so it will be easy for us to relate to them and give them encouragement. When we build each other up, it glorifies God because by doing so we represent Him to other people. Someday, when we look back, when we put our hope in Christ alone, we will see how God has moved in our lives and carried us through our discouragement and disappointment.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus,

I know will be times when I would feel disappointed and discouraged when things don't go my way. But please do not allow my emotions to drag me down. Help me to stand up again, by finding hope in you and be secured that you are a God who will take care of me no matter what the situation looks like. Lord I know that this experience is necessary for me to mature and understand more of your goodness. I believe that greater things are yet to come as I trust that you are making me into a person of hope and faith. I will depend on you and not to myself, and from now on, I will praise you even when its difficult to praise. Thank you Lord because this story will someday encourage others as you carry me through each situation. Thank you Jesus for the disappointments because they always come with victories as well.

I lift my heart to you, In Jesus' name.

Amen.

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