Relational Reset: 7 Days To Unlearning The Habits That Hold You BackSample

 Deal with Disappointment

When it comes to having realistic expectations of others, I can think of no better role model than Jesus. He was no stranger to disappointment. Even His closest circle of friends, His disciples— family, really—did not always demonstrate belief or faith in Him. 

The disciples fell asleep numerous times while Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane despite being asked by Jesus to watch and pray. Three times Jesus asked, and three times His disciples failed Him. 

Judas betrayed Him. Oh, how Judas betrayed Him. 

Peter denied Him. Not once. Not twice. But three times. And this was after Jesus had told Peter that he would, and Peter said, “No way. Not me. Not ever.” But he did. 

Thomas doubted Him. He saw the resurrected Jesus face to face, yet refused to believe He was really the Christ until he saw the nail marks in His hands and the wound in His side where He had been speared. 

Jesus knew exactly what His disciples would do. He understood that they were human and therefore, sinners. He knew that because of sin, they would disappoint others, including Him. Not only did He know that the disciples would disappoint Him, He even knew what their actions would be long before they did. But Jesus never pulled back or tried to retaliate. He loved and accepted the disciples despite their hurtful actions toward Him. He accepted that they were merely human, and that they couldn’t be perfect. 

All of us can benefit from having this expectation: people will disappoint us. Friends will disappoint us. Family will disappoint us. Fellow church members, neighbors, employers, colleagues . . . they will all disappoint us. We’ll disappoint others too. If we’re not careful, we’ll expect perfection from others. If so, when disappointment comes, it can crush us and our relationships. The Lord knows we don’t want anyone expecting us to be perfect, so we shouldn’t expect that from others either.