Dealing with Disappointment

Warning! What I am about to write here may depress you. From a counseling perspective, it is probably the worst approach and advice anyone could ever give. But guess what? This world is full of disappointment and some of it you will likely never get over. This is just truth. This is why this world is not our home. Sometimes life is just disappointing and difficult.

People deal with disappointment every day. There is what people wish for and then there is their real life. Maybe they wish they had more physical blessings. Maybe they wish they had a certain portion of ability or talent in some area in which they will never excel. Perhaps people want a strong relationship but are either unable to find that special someone or they are lonely in their marriage. Maybe people are unhealthy and they can’t seem to get well no matter how many doctors they visit. Maybe everything they have ever wanted and have sacrificed to achieve has never come to be.

How do you deal with that? If your heart is completely set on something that never happens, how do you deal with the realization that your dream has to end? Hope is a powerful thing…so when the object of your hope is not going to be realized, when all hope is lost, what then?

We need to realize that the real problem is that we have often misappropriated our hope. Psalm 49 speaks of those who set their hope and trust in temporary things: wealth, possessions, positions, earthly relationships. It explains further that people assume they will keep these things, that their land will stay in the family, and that their houses will always be theirs to live in. In reality, nothing earthly lasts.

Even people married over 50 years will eventually lose their spouse. And nothing we have here in a physical sense can we take with us to the grave. Our health is going to fail. Our days of glory are going to fade. As we age we go through series of losses – so misappropriated hope is going to lead to disappointment every single time.

Notice these words from the apostle Peter – “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13, emphasis added). He is saying, get it together, people! Start thinking correctly and get in your right mind! Hope is supposed to be eternal in its direction. The only thing fully sufficient is grace. The only One who will never disappoint us is Jesus.

While we lose our health, he heals us on the inside. While we lose our possessions, he is building us a mansion in glory. While we lose our relationships, he will never leave us or forsake us. He is the only real thing, the only sure thing, and the only faithful thing. We can trust in Him. We can hope in Him, We can believe in Him. He is all any of us will ever need.

How do we deal with disappointment? Just know it’s coming from time to time in different forms. And when it comes – give me Jesus! Jesus knows. Jesus understands. Jesus cares. Jesus loves. Jesus delivers.

There’s a balm in Gilead.

“Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.” – Hosea 6:1-2.

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AUTHOR: Jeremiah Tatum