One of the most important life lessons is to learn to deal with disappointments. They are part of life and we need to learn to deal with them in order to live well. If we don’t…well, we become bitter and do not live well.

When other people disappoint us, we get frustrated. When we disappoint ourselves, we get depressed. And when circumstances work against us, we get discouraged. How could we learn to stay hope-filled in the midst of disappointments?

Thomas Brooks has said “Every thing that a man leans upon but God, will be a dart that will certainly pierce his heart through and through. He, who leans only upon Christ, lives the highest, choicest, safest, and sweetest life.”

That’s the secret of a happy life: lean on God always. Not only on good days but also – and especially – on bad days. Because God will take care of us. Not necessarily the way we would choose if asked. But in a way that blessed us most in the end.

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5, AMP)

Even though we know God will not forsake us, we might feel that way anyhow. What to do then? Kurt Bubna writes wisely in his book Epic Grace, Chronicles of a Recovering Idiot:

“Sometimes you may feel as if God has let you down. Maybe you’ve had perfectly reasonable expectations of him, but it seems that he’s failed you. That’s okay. You’re in good company.  Elijah, David, Jeremiah, and countless others all felt the same way at times. The best thing to do is what they did: Cry out to God. Take your pain to him. He can handle it. Then stop, at least for a moment, and whisper through your tears, ‘God, I don’t like this. I don’t get this. Frankly, I am mad and confused. But I choose to trust you, I choose to believe that you know all things and you really do have a perfect plan.'”

When we choose to surrender to God when we are disappointed and ,we welcome God’s power into our life. When we admit we can’t make it our own, we can experience God’s healing and empowering presence. When give our failures and hurts sand disappointments to God, they become stepping stones into peace.

Yes, saints in the Bible forgot the good God had done to them way too quickly. And so do we. Yes, saints in the Bible complained when things were not going the way they would have preferred. And so do we. But they always ended up on their knees at the end. And so should we.

Because that is the only way to live fully. That is the only way to live a hope-filled life. That is the only way. Because only Jesus has the words of eternal life, real life.

 

Gracious God,
Forgive us for wanting to force things our way.
Forgive us for focusing on ourselves and not on you.
Forgive us for forgetting to welcome you into our problems.
Forgive us for complaining about waiting on your timing.
We want to be yours.
We want to do things your way.
Change what needs to be changed.
Heal what needs to be healed.
And bring on your plans!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How do you fight the good fight?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you stay alert and choose God daily!

 Image courtesy of Emmanuel Carrizo, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Unite the Bloggersphere , Three Word Wednesday and #tellhisstory.

This post is part of #EpicGraceWednesdays. I am blogging through Kurt Bubna’s Epic Grace. Join me every Wednesday!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review (or any review for that matter). The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”