What do you do when you’re disappointed with God? When things don’t turn out the way you hoped or expected they would? I encourage you to really think about this one for a minute.
I’ll tell you what I’ve done in the past when I’ve felt disappointed with Him. I’ve become discouraged, confused, frustrated and bitter. I’ve been angry at God for not giving me what I prayed for.
“Why are You withholding _______ from me?”
And as a result I would stop trusting God, stop praying and slowly find myself drifting away from His sweet presence, doubting His goodness; even doubting my own goodness wondering what I did to deserve this “punishment.”
Recently I faced disappointment. Something didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped it would. I was confused, but I knew God had purpose in it. Because if there is one thing I’ve learned in my life it’s that He FOR REAL uses everything for our good. Despite that understanding, however, the disappointment was stirring up and bringing to the surface all these other painful emotions and thoughts that had driven me away from the Lord in the past and I hated feeling that way. I hated the temptation to doubt His love for me. I felt guilty and I felt ashamed.
As I was sitting out on our dock the other afternoon, internally struggling with all of this, the Lord impressed Psalm 84 on my heart. Verses 5-7 and 11 stood out to me the most:
“What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.”�
I read these verses and my mind was blown. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping??? Not if, but when! We all walk through valleys of weeping and suffering at times in our lives. But in Christ there is always hope. What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on seeking Him! Something God is teaching me lately is to embrace where He has me, in times of rejoicing and times of struggle. I used to be terrified of suffering but in these verses I find peace and hope that He will turn those valleys into places of refreshing springs! That even in those times of suffering, He will shower it with BLESSINGS! And it’s through those valleys that we grow stronger!
So as I was giving God my disappointments and my guilt and shame (those feelings aren’t from Him to begin with) I began to feel His peace reassure me of this truth:
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
The truth is God is faithful. He is GOOD. And no matter how we feel, the truth is God is not withholding anything good from us. Everything that we currently have is exactly what He wants for us in that present moment.
So in the midst of disappointment I had two options to choose from. I could run away from God in bitterness and frustration as I’ve done in the past or I could run to Him and allow Him to turn my valley of weeping into growth and abundant blessings.
So that day on the dock I declared with all of heaven as my witness, I am no longer following the enemy. I say NO to the path of self pity. I say NO to the path of depression. I say NO to lies!
But I say YES to the path of LIFE. I choose the path of TRUTH and
the path of JOY.
I CHOOSE TO FOLLOW JESUS! Even if it means into the wilderness.
Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.� – Hosea 2:14
Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her Beloved? – Song of Solomon 8:5
