Dealing with Disappointment

I write this morning to do, as John Piper says, "preach to myself." And maybe it will help you too. These are just a few "off the cuff" thoughts that I wrote down one morning several weeks back, that I need reminding of regularly. If any of you see fit to remind me of these things in coming months, please do so, just in a soft, helpful way--sometimes being a Pharisee is a hard thing to swallow...

We all have times when we don't get what we want or need. Our expectations are high. We dream about, think about, pray about, work toward something, and then at the moment that it doesn't come to pass, our hearts are broken, and sometimes we react with anger against others, and sometimes against God. So, I tried to think of some biblical truths that would help me combat such feelings, so that my anger is quelled, and relationships are helped and not hurt by disappointment. Not a lot of deep thought here, just short, memorable, and I believe helpful truths that we can repeat to ourselves in our minds, so that we may make much of Jesus.

1. Receive all things with thankfulness - "...giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," -Eph 5:20
2. Understand disappointment as God's wisest plan for you at this time - "I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." -Psa 119:75
3. Own some of the responsibility, refuse to point fingers, we usually bear some fault - "then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!" -2 Sam 12:10, sometimes we "ask amiss."
4. Confess and forsake our sinful anger, most anger is due to self-centered desires not met - "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice..." -Col 3:8
5. Remember God's promises, and His unfailing love -"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." -Phil 4:19, "as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness..." -2 Pet 1:3
6. Bring yourself into submission - "bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," -2 Cor 10:5, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." -Phil 4:8, "for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" -Phil 4:11

Maybe these will be helpful to you. Meditate through those you remember in your disappoint in circumstances and in others.

Blessings,