Dealing with Disapointment

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Wisdom Hunters
Psalm 55:22
"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall."
Process disappointment or you will remain in a disappointed cycle. Disappointment is meant to drive us to God not away from Him. If disappointment is not processed, it harms our heart. It builds up like emotional plaque and blocks the flow of the Holy Spirit between us and Almighty God. The Spirit is quenched and we are left to function in our own strength. This is a lonely place to end up. Unprocessed disappointment leads to angry reactions. Whether it leaks out gradually or explodes unexpectedly, it is ugly. It causes others to ask, ‘Where did that come from?’ ‘Is he/she okay?’ Disappointed people become a dread to be around. They are unhappy with themselves and everyone who surrounds them. Disappointment is here to stay, but we can move beyond its influence.

Daily we have opportunities to process disappointment. It may come in the form of a broken promise or an unmet expectation. You may find disappointment in your checkbook, your calendar, or when you step up on the scale. Sometimes disappointment is disguised in a remorseful purchase or commitment. The product or service is not what you signed up for, but you feel obligated to do your part. More than likely, most of your disappointments revolve around people. They let you down. They don’t act they way you want them to. They do not give you the respect you deserve. They don’t seem to care. They disappoint you.

So, since disappointment is a fact of life, how can we process it in a healthy manner? How can disappointment work for our advantage instead of our disadvantage? Processing disappointment properly begins with seeking God’s perspective. We can begin to align with His view on the matter with questions like, ‘What does God want me to learn from this disappointing situation? How do I need to change? How can I be a blessing to others in the middle of my extreme disappointment? How can I shift from my disappointment to His faithfulness?’ These questions, and others like them, help us process disappointment in a way that makes us more dependent on God and less dependent on circumstances. He understands our disappointment and wants to meet us in the middle of our hurt. But He meets with us to move us beyond our disappointment into the satisfaction of our Savior.

Therefore, do not stay stuck in your disappointment. Move out of its ugly dilemma. You can transition from blame and lay claim to the Lord. Christ cares. He cares so much He overcame His own extreme disappointment when He cried out, ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Mark 15:34) He cared by giving His life on the Cross for you. Your Savior Jesus will sustain you in and through your disappointment. Indeed make regular appointments with your heavenly Father to process your disappointment. Flood your soul with His grace and forgiveness. Pray for those who have let you down. See them as God sees them, people who desperately need His care. How you process disappointment is a testament of your trust in Jesus. Facilitators of disappointment are watching you. Therefore, model casting your cares on Christ and they may do the same. Receive God’s care so you can care for the disappointed. With His care, neither of you will stay disappointed. Process your disappointment by the grace of God. His care overcomes disappointment. Therefore, stay in the process of processing disappointment. He cares!