We all know that distinct sting. That one that sits in the pit of your stomach or maybe tears your heart raw. That sting of disappointment when something or someone fails, and you can’t shake the loss. We’ve all experienced it and know that it is nothing new. Maybe right now you are experiencing that sting with a situation that you’d hoped would go differently or already be resolved, and yet it lingers, slapping you in the face when you wake up or get to work. Maybe right now it is with a person that you have given yet another chance to, only to watch as they squander it and treat your lovingkindness as common. Maybe right now it is with yourself. Those goals you wrote down six months ago have seen very little progress, or those dreams you had 10 years ago are exactly where they were then - just dreams. Or maybe, you are disappointed with God. How could He allow this thing to happen? How could He keep this good thing from you? He made a promise to you and didn’t keep it! Did He?
Before meeting my husband, I wasted years wishing, and hoping, and thinking, and praying, planning, and dreaming of my knight in shining armor who was going to solve all my problems and give me value in this world. I claimed the promise God made to Sarah in Hebrews 11:11, “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered Him faithful who had made the promise.” I considered God faithful! Where was my man?? It wasn’t until years later that I realized that was not a promise for me. God never promised me anything resembling a husband, so to be disappointed in Him for failing to deliver was quite an audacious thing.
I don’t want to negate your feelings or struggles; I have no idea what they are. What I do know is that the God of the universe loves you and has never broken a promise to you. He has never failed you or lied or not done what He said He would do. Realizing God didn’t do what I said He should do versus what He said He would do changed my whole perspective on my disappointment in God. First, I was no longer disappointed in Him because I literally had no reason to be. Second, my faith and trust were restored and stronger than ever because I could look at all my past disappointments and see that, again, it was not a failure on His part. He has always been faithful to me! Lastly, I realized that He was the only one I could truly trust with all of my heart and know it was completely safe.
If you’re struggling with that unending disappointment in a situation, person, yourself, or God, turn to Him. I promise you that your heart is safe with Him.