Feeling Disappointed!

I’m feeling quite disappointed this morning. Since my recovery from my back surgery was going so well, Kim and I had planned to visit our grandsons this weekend—along with their parents! Earlier this week, however, my back muscles went into spasms (which the doctor’s office says can happen as the muscles heal) and I’ve been in pain since. Such being the case, I knew I couldn’t make the four hour drive or function all that well away from home. Thus, we had to cancel our trip.   

Thankfully, I’m beginning to feel better. But it has felt like a major step backwards in my healing process. After all, I felt like I was making really good progress. I was able to get in and out of bed normally, go for walks without any pain, and in general feel like my overall mobility was coming back. This week, however, has set me back. Thus, I knew I couldn’t make the trip. Again, I’m feeling quite disappointed; I was so looking forward to seeing “the boys.” 

This is not the first time in my life I’ve been disappointed. And I’m sure you’ve had your share of disappointments as well. After all, life has a way of bringing disappointment. Expectations we held onto disappear. Promises are broken. People we counted on are no longer there. The plans we made and the things to which we looked forward shift, change, dissolve. Yes, unfortunately, life is filled with all kinds of disappointments. 

The question is, how do we respond when we are faced with disappointment? Some people, after a number of disappointments may give up or give into despair. They stop planning, hoping, investing in the future—or into relationships. They live their lives guarded, on the defense, and ultimately hopeless. But I believe there’s a better way. Let me share a few of those. 

1. Realize that the disappointment you may be facing, may in fact be your opportunity to pivot and experience something new, unexpected, or even completely different. Life may not be moving on the trajectory you had planned, but it may be that there’s a new trajectory for you to take. I’ve seen that happen a number of times in my own life. 

2. Know that the disappointment you are facing today is not necessarily the end of the story. I may not get to see my grandsons this weekend, but that doesn’t mean I’ll never see them again. In fact, I think we will even FaceTime sometime today. 

3. Finally, as I’m sure you could guess I would say, put your trust in God the One who never disappoints. After all, in the midst of a world that has a way of bringing one disappointment after another, he promises to be with us, shepherding us through even the darkest valleys of life—or we might say, the greatest disappointments of life. 

Let’s hold onto the psalmist's words: “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me  all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23:6 – NLT) That’s a promise that will never disappoint!

Have a great day! 

Pastor Tim Harris