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Hope Amidst Disappointment

By: Sarah Freymuth

READY

“This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”—Romans 5:5

SET

It stings doesn’t it? When we don’t find our name on the final roster after tryout week, when our knee pops in the middle of a play and we know that means bad news, when we’re released from a team we gave our all to. In the end, our performance just wasn’t good enough.

Disappointment can quickly bring us down and have us doubting any good in the future. But could this be because we’ve placed our hope in circumstances and people rather than in God? The world’s promises are shaky at best, but God gives us a better way.

We can place our hope in Him; His history has already proven to be trustworthy. God is faithful. He’s our defender, our refuge, and our redeemer. We can trust Him, knowing He has already gone before us and has made a way for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the certainty we can cling to: that He who did not spare His own Son will not stop seeing us through.

God promises to bring beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3), and He is doing a new thing (Revelation 21:5). The next time we are tempted to be discouraged, we can look at what Jesus has already done. We are safe and secure when we accept His saving work on the cross and believe that He has our lives—good, bad, and in between—in His capable hands.

Jesus is the salve that eases the sting of disappointment. Let’s hold onto His hope that never disappoints because of His great love.

GO

1. Have you been disappointed lately? How did it make you feel?
2. How is hope in God different than hoping in the things of this world?
3. Take a moment to thank God for His eternal hope and tell someone about this hope that doesn’t disappoint.

WORKOUT

• Ephesians 1:7-8
• 2 Thessalonians 3:3
• Hebrews 11:1

OVERTIME

God, thank You that You promise to never disappoint me. Thank You that You are faithful and trustworthy and that I can place my hope in You. Help me to look to You when I face disappointment and to give You my fears, sadness, and hope. You always make a way. In Jesus’ name, amen.