4 Ways to Partner With God in Your Disappointment
The beginnings of a new year quite often come with exciting intentions, innovative goals, and calculated resolutions.
As the calendar changes, it ushers in a dedicated resolve toward a new opportunity to better ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. But what about those who can’t seem to grasp the same level of optimism?
For some, the upcoming election year is leaving more anxiety than opportunity. For others, the pain of last year has left you standing in its wake, unable to take the next step forward. Or, just maybe, the idea of making a promise to yourself again, only to leave it unfulfilled, is leaving you with a bitter taste in your mouth.
So, how can we move forward in our disappointment as we partner with the God of promise in the season ahead?
The Promises of God
There are many ways God is described in the Bible. He is our King, Creator, Provider, and Father of promise.
Throughout Scripture, we see God’s promises declared and come to pass over generations upon generations. And while these promises were spoken over specific people and groups of people, they all reveal God’s character toward the world today.
Promises of Yesterday and For Today
He is With You
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5, NIV
God is with you whatever you may be going through, the good, bad, or mundane. He goes before you and aligns His perfect path, and He walks beside you, guiding you through every circumstance.
He Gives You a Future
“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
Jeremiah 29:11, NIV
God not only loves and cares about you and what you are going through, but He whispers His promises of love over you to encourage you in the dry places and remind you of your greatest potential in Him.
He Gives You Peace
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7, NIV
Regardless of what you are experiencing, God desires to give you peace to weather the storm. As you share your heart with Him, He promises to be near and cover you with His shalom.
Bill Johnson, author and pastor of Bethel Redding, said, “The promises are an invitation of God into a relational journey where we labor to see things happen in the earth that reveals His nature.”
God is a God of promise, and He invites us into a partnership where we see them come to pass in our lives and the world around us.
Before You Believed the Promise, God Said Yes
The most common trap humanity falls into is the mindset that God withholds His promises from us until we get things right. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
God loves us unconditionally, which is why He prepared a way for reconciliation with Him through His Son, Jesus, even before we decided to choose Him! And God has repeatedly declared in His word that He wants to see things of purpose happen in your life.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.”
2 Corinthians 1:20, NIV
God loves you, He wants to bless you, and His promises are always “yes and amen.”
God’s Promises Do Not Align With Your Agenda
Mary and Joseph were chosen to be the earthly parents of Jesus, and as high of a calling that is, it still brought disappointment.
In Luke 2:41-52, Mary, Joseph, and their extremely large extended family made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When it was time to return home to Nazareth, they traveled for three days before realizing they lost Jesus. However, he wasn’t truly lost, but in his Father’s house – the temple.
Now, you can probably imagine the worry these young parents felt as their pre-teen son (who also is God in the flesh) willfully chose to stay and not continue with the group. After all, wouldn’t God have more consideration than this?
Disappointment is more common than you think, especially when living out our faith.
We make plans and resolutions to be better, and a debilitating circumstance comes along and knocks the breath out of us.
We forgive the loved one who continues hurting us, only to be blindsided by the same behavior again and again.
We give our time and resources to our local church and are left feeling overlooked, unappreciated, and hurt by Christians.
So, how do we continue to cling to the promises of God when disappointment is so prevalent?
4 Ways to Partner With God’s Promises When You’re Disappointed
It can be hard to keep going when we are experiencing disappointment, especially in our faith. While it is a genuine emotion, many of us are unsure how to handle it, especially when feeling let down by God.
Together, let’s explore how we can partner with God in our times of disappointment.
Hold On to His Promises and Let Go of Your Plan
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV
Did you know that God has a good and perfect plan for your life? Far too often, we take the wheel, making plans and declarations that are either not good for us or cause stagnancy in our growth.
We can trust God because He sees our hearts, knows our future, and will fulfill more than we can ever imagine when we put our trust in Him. Believe in His promises, regardless of what you perceive to be true of your circumstances. He will work it out.
Pray Bold Prayers Because God Answers All His Promises
Far too often, many of us sit before God and pray safe prayers. You know the ones I am talking about – these are the prayers that you know God can answer with minimal effort: a small pay raise or quick healing from a common cold.
And while I believe these things are important, what would happen if we were audacious enough to pray for the impossible?
I challenge you to come before His throne and continue asking Him for the bold desire of your heart. You may find that that big thing you are scared to ask for is a simple “yes” from the One who sustains.
If you have a prayer you have given up on and feel disappointed about because it hasn’t happened in your time or way, can I encourage you to join us for our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting?
Address Your Disappointments With God Until They Are Resolved
Do you have an unresolved disappointment with God? You cannot have great faith and pray bold prayers if you are still holding on to the frustration of the past.
God is not upset when we are mad at Him. In fact, He invites us to question the whys and wrestle with Him. He is faithful to sustain and encourage our spirit as we walk with Him through the valley to the other side. Will you trust Him even in the disappointment?
Ask God to Transform Your Heart as He Transforms Your Circumstances
Often, the things we want to see come to fruition in our lives don’t align with God’s will, and where we feel lacking is where disappointment can grow. But what if I told you that God is more interested in transforming your heart than He is in giving you everything you want?
We have a faithful Father who has handcrafted a purpose for each of us, one that will give us the opportunity to reflect His Son to the world around us. And while He may not provide what you feel is best for your life, He is faithful to change your heart in the process.
Disappointment is a gift, a means to process emotion and lack, allowing God to reveal His perfect love for you.
Will you invite Him into yours?
For more on Disappointment, check out Pastor Stephen’s Sermon: Set Apart: Where Will You Be Found.
