Love you all, praying for you…
Have you ever noticed that famous movies have great lines – a defining moment. Perhaps the greatest line of all time – from the best movie ever – The Princess Bride. Get used to disappointment. (Close second… Time to Fly – Michael Jordan, you really should see both.) “Get used to disappointment” A humorous line, but for some, a life philosophy. Some people say it because they are just joking, it’s their cockiness or confidence that “you will never beat me in this contest of skill, strength or wit.” The devil says it because He wants you to believe it applies to you. He’s just trying to make you doubt the boundless love that God has for you. As if God forgot you, or didn’t care, or wasn’t trustworthy. Like that kid who took a face-plant cause his daddy wasn’t paying attention… That doesn’t happen with God, He’s never not paying attention… The devil is just lying, because He’s a liar. God never said get used to disappointment – the devil says that. Neither does God plan disappointment – any more than He causes you to sin. Disappointment is just an emotional reaction to an event or action that you didn’t expect, or was less than you hoped. An emotional reaction to something that doesn’t turn out the way you wanted, dreamed or hoped that it would. Some topics are so uncomfortable to talk about. Disappointment is one of them. Some joke, but there’s nothing funny about it. Disappointment occurs on so many levels. What is disappointment? When you leave the drive-thru window without checking and they forgot the fries, or the napkins – now that’s disappointment. Really? When your birthday party gets rained out or your team loses… Even then - is it the team that you practice with every day – or just the home team that you root for? Some disappointments are inconvenience, but some are life altering tragedies. I don’t want to give examples. From childhood to adulthood, there are things that are really just too painful to even think about. Time doesn’t heal everything, only God can do that. And don’t believe the devil’s lie. Whatever happened is not God’s fault, don’t let him tell you it is. And some things weren’t your fault either. If disappointment is because you lost the game – no one thing is solely responsible for a loss. Don’t make excuses for yourself, but don’t take blame or responsibility that’s not yours. Your parents decided to divorce – to break their vows before God – it wasn’t what you did - it’s what they did. While God doesn’t plan disappointment – our choices often do. The surest way to attract disappointment is to set your heart on things God doesn’t have for you. That’s why PiVAT is so important. If you follow your plans – disappointment is sure to follow. What seems best isn’t, what seems like success doesn’t make it success. What do you put your hope in? The things of the world or things above? The pleasures and ambitions of the temporary, or do you put your trust in God – and His plans for you? A big question in life. How do you handle disappointment? Does it sharpen you, or shape you? Does it jump start you or jade you? You choose. You can let it develop you, or you can let it define you. The devil wants to define your life by your disappointments. “You’ll never succeed, or no one will ever love you...” Some people listen to the wrong voice. If you do, you’ll always be disappointed. And the devil always wants to turn disappointment into bitterness, distrust, or an excuse to not try, or do better. Like the immature child who says, I didn’t really want to make that team anyway. Especially in the more significant things in life – the devil has a plan for disappointment - he wants it to become grief that never ends, or bitterness that takes root. Do not give way to it. A moment of truth in life – How do you respond to disappointment? Some people make excuses, some people feign not caring, some people blame others, some people give up. Some people press through closed doors. God finally had it with the unbelief of the Israelites, and after choosing the report of the ten spies, instead of Joshua and Caleb, their consequence was 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. But the same ones that choose to disbelieve God’s promise… Once the consequence of what they had done sunk in - these idiots decided to carry on the fight on their own. Bad idea – they got their butts kicked. So how do you respond to disappointment? Do you internalize, blame, make excuses, or feign indifference? God doesn’t plan it, but He has a plan for you in the middle of it. How does God want you to respond to the disappointments that come. Be Humble, Ask, Wait, Forgive, & Obey. #1 Be humble – It’s a posture of heart and mind and body which recognizes, “you don’t know everything – there might be something that you don’t know.” God knows, you don’t – be humble, don’t doubt, blame or make excuses… #2 Ask Him – God am I missing something? How to You want me to respond to this setback, in the middle of this disappointment? #3 Wait – and if He says… just go back through the drive-thru and get the fries they forgot. Other times – God wants you to move on – to set your focus, affections and efforts in a different place. Disappointment is a result of unmet expectations. Were your expectations set on the right thing? Ask God, He will tell you. And He will tell you the next thing. Don’t feel guilty for being disappointed, but don’t internalize it either. Your disappointments don’t define you, whether things outside your control, or things your fault, or things that you contributed to. God’s love for you – defines you. It’s not what you do, or who you are, it’s really whose you are. That’s a disappointment-proof life. It doesn’t prevent them all, but it gets you through them all. Ask and Wait. Joshua just experienced the greatest victory in history – the walls of Jericho just fell down, He just obeyed, and God did it. But the next city – having only sent a few soldiers, resulted in complete disaster that shook everyone to their core… their very existence as a nation and people was at stake. They sought the LORD, and waited for His answer. He was clear, and they did what He said. #4 - Forgive – if this disappointment involves people, like most do… less than perfect people, like you… Forgive. Why? Because Christ has forgiven you. It’s what He commands. Always forgive, don’t let disappointment turn into unforgiveness. Let that go. #5 Obey - Determine in your heart, no matter how deep the disappointment, that your trust is in God alone, not in what you wished or hoped would be or happen. Know that He sees and He hears and He said He will turn what the devil meant for evil, into what He has for your good. That whatever God reveals through this disappointment, no matter what the cause, or your part in it.. whatever step He tells you and even the attitude towards it that He has for you in it, that you irrevocably resolve to fully obey at every step. God wants to sharpen you even through disappointment, He doesn’t cause it, but He can used it for your good. Disappointment will never shape you, nor does it define you. Humility and obedience define you, and who you are in Christ is your identity, and your destiny. He said He will fulfill His purpose for you. Praying you will review the PRISM Topic – Life Purpose and Direction. It doesn’t matter what disappointment you have suffered, or any that may come. If you set your mind on Him, if you choose to praise Him in every circumstance and give thanks in every situation, and commit yourself to the obey the next step that He will reveal for you. This disappointment will lead to a victory, a blessing, a re-direction, and you will be established on the path to His good. Love you all, dad
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