Disappointment is like cancer
– Lowered expectation
– Weakened faith
– Self-fulfilling prophecy
– Anger
– Contempt
– Self-righteousness
Disappointed people in the Bible
– Abraham
– Joseph
– Moses (Acts 7:25)
– Hannah (1 Samuel 1:14)
– Samuel (1 Samuel 15:35)
– David
– John the Baptist (Mark 6:25)
– Mary and Martha (John 11:17)
A pattern observed
– Instead of lowering their expectation, drifting away, and taking offence at God, these people draw near to God.
– As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2)
– It is the only way that leads to recovery.
1. Drawing near to grieve
– My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:3)
– As we draw near to grieve, the Lord draws near to weep with us. (John 11:29-35)
– Healing occurs when we know that the Father cares deeply about us.
2. Drawing near to wait for His word
– When we are ready to listen, God will give us a reminder, a comfort, a promise, or a new mission.
– It is the father’s heart to comfort, to lift up, and to give new strength.
– To Abraham – Genesis 15:1-6
– To Samuel – 1 Samuel 16:1
– To John – Matthew 11:4-6
– To Martha – John 11:40
3. Drawing near to seek strength for breakthrough
– And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
– From everlasting to everlasting, God is in charge. He is working out our salvation. (Romans 8:29-30)
– It comes down to one question: Is He good? Is He good all the time?
– As soon as we are willing let go of the offence we’ve kept, breakthrough is already on its way.
Not just surviving, but conquering
– Not only will we survive the cancer of disappointment, God will kill the cancer and make us conquerers.
– Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
– No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:35,37)
Reflections
– He (God) who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)
– We can not hold on to disappointments and God’s goodness at the same time. We have to let go of the one to hold on to the other.
– Will you draw near to God this week?
– Will you let go of the offence you have taken and draw near to grieve, to wait for Him to speak, and to seek strength for a breakthrough?
– May He grant you a breakthrough this week.
