All of us have experienced disappointment at some point in our lives. As children it might have been at Christmas when instead of a Holly Hobbie doll we received a pack of Care Bear underwear. Maybe as a teenager we watched our friends drive off in a Trans Am while we waited for our Chevette to decide to start. Unfortunately, disappointment does not have a season like puberty or menopause. It has no starting or stopping point; it is an ever present aggravation in life.
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Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines disappointment as the ‘defeat or failure of expectation, hope, wish, desire or intention; miscarriage of design or plan.’ In order for disappointment to exist it needs one’s expectation to be placed on another person, thing or event. That presents a problem as people, things and events will always have the potential to let us down. People can always fail or reject us, walking away when least expected. That is not always the case, but the possibility is there because people are fallible. Things can disappoint us because they have been created by fallible humans. Cars will break down, washers will leak, drains will clog, and toys will break. Events disappoint when they do not turn out as expected. Think of the barbecue that gets rained on or the concert that sounds horrible.
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There is One who never disappoints. The God of the universe is never wrong, never late, never hurtful, and never leaves. He is infallible, has perfect timing, and shows His kindness even in chastisement; He is faithful. Do His ways always seem perfect to us? No, but that does not change the fact that He is perfect. Do we ever feel disappointed that He has not answered a prayer the way we wanted? Yes, but that does not change the fact that He sees the end of a thing from its beginning and takes that in account when answering.
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Disappointment is man made; it is not a truth based in the infallible God. When we stop and consider the faithfulness of the God who made us and redeemed us we can put our trust in Him and Him alone. No matter what happens, no matter who fails us the Lord never will. Great is His faithfulness!
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For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38,39
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Prayer:
Father, Thank You for never disappointing me. No matter what is happening in my life, You have promised to be there with me in the midst. You hold me in the palm of Your hand and nothing can separate me from You. Amen.
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Challenge:
Are you disappointed about something? Has something not turned out as you expected or has a friend or loved one walked away or hurt you? Refocus on Jesus, the One who will never leave you or forsake you. Allow Him to take away the expectations you place on others and look only to Him for fulfillment.
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There is One who never disappoints. The God of the universe is never wrong, never late, never hurtful, and never leaves. He is infallible, has perfect timing, and shows His kindness even in chastisement; He is faithful. Do His ways always seem perfect to us? No, but that does not change the fact that He is perfect. Do we ever feel disappointed that He has not answered a prayer the way we wanted? Yes, but that does not change the fact that He sees the end of a thing from its beginning and takes that in account when answering.
*
Disappointment is man made; it is not a truth based in the infallible God. When we stop and consider the faithfulness of the God who made us and redeemed us we can put our trust in Him and Him alone. No matter what happens, no matter who fails us the Lord never will. Great is His faithfulness!
*
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38,39
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Prayer:
Father, Thank You for never disappointing me. No matter what is happening in my life, You have promised to be there with me in the midst. You hold me in the palm of Your hand and nothing can separate me from You. Amen.
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Challenge:
Are you disappointed about something? Has something not turned out as you expected or has a friend or loved one walked away or hurt you? Refocus on Jesus, the One who will never leave you or forsake you. Allow Him to take away the expectations you place on others and look only to Him for fulfillment.
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Jen 2010
1 comment:
Charming says that God is never disappointed in us, either. Because He never has unrealistic expectations, He can't be disappointed. Just like us, not expecting a three-year old to act like an adult. Great stuff, my friend.
--barbie<3
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