Unmasked - Dare to Be the Real YouSample

DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

Disappointment is inevitable. We cannot avoid it, so we need to see it from a godly perspective. We cannot dismiss the reality of the shock we receive when disappointment comes, but we can accept it and go through the normal process associated with disappointment: shock, denial, frustration, grief, acceptance. The ultimate aim after suffering a disappointment is healing and rebuilding. To achieve this, we must face our disappointments, acknowledge the hurt, and keep walking through it practically and spiritually.

Going through the disappointment process is vitally important. One more step I would add to the process is being able to trust again. We must guard against feeling that God has let us down and that we are unable to trust Him in the future. We need to keep faith and grow in trusting God, not just in knowing about Him. And God is trustworthy. It is good for us to know that Jesus acknowledges that we will experience pain. This fact alone should tell us that Jesus must have a plan for us to overcome disappointment.

If He says that all things work for the good of those who love Him, and if we are CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE, then He will not allow disappointment to derail His plan for us. We need to know this deep in our hearts so that we do not fall away when disappointment comes...and it will.

The choice is ours: bitter or better?  We can choose bitterness and become ineffective in our purpose or we can choose to become better by seeing disappointment as a valuable lesson and an opportunity to get closer to God. Remember, God is not overwhelmed or intimidated by our disappointments nor is He scared of our honest feelings. Be honest with God; He knows anyway. Let’s choose to handle disappointment in a healthy way.

TAKEAWAYS

Reflect on your disappointment. Pray and face it. Be thankful for the opportunity to be honest with God.

Ask questions. Ask God your puzzling questions - rational, irrational, and random questions. Questions are the vehicle to transport your disappointment from regret, into the realm of potential and progress and, ultimately, to healing and rebuilding.

Trust God to bring good from everything He permits to come your way.

DECLARATIONS

Heavenly Father, You know what it is like to be disappointed. We have all disappointed You at times and fallen short of Your standards. Your disciples disappointed you. Even as You wrestled in the garden and asked for the cup to be taken away from You, You willingly surrendered and trusted the heart of Your Heavenly Father. Help me to follow Your example when I am disappointed, and I will continue to trust Your plans and purposes for my life. Amen.

REFLECTIONS

Haggai 2:9 says, “The glory of this latter temple will be greater than the former.” How does this scripture encourage you?

If it is holding you back, look away. Haggai 2:3 says, “Is it not as nothing in your eyes?” Look away from the past and its mistakes and sorrows. What are you allowing to distract you?

Your perspective shifts things; look up! Haggai 2:4 says, “Be strong, all you people of the land, says the Lord and work; for I am with you.” How can you view things through the eyes of a big God?