There is no one to blame for where you are, but YOU! If you RISE, it's up to you. If you FALL, it's up to you. It is not what happens, but how we react to what happens that is important. "We had hoped!" Those are common words. Disappointment is one of life's most common experiences. Life fails to satisfy expectations. There are many reasons and causes for disappointment, sadness of the soul, and broken dreams.
Jesus never intended His Church to be a referral station, but an answering station. People do not understand God's plan. When you fail to operate in God's plan for your life, you feel like your whole world is falling apart. NO - not the whole world just your house!
WHAT CAUSES DISAPPOINTMENT?
1. Sometimes pride, thinking too highly of oneself.
2. Sometimes sin.
UNNECESSARY DISAPPOINTMENT
Sometimes disappointment is unnecessary. When a person willfully neglects or abuses a known law of life, he suffers unnecessarily.
1. Eating unwisely can result in ill health.
2. Speaking unwisely can result in poor mental health. Speak positively. Watch what you say!
3. Judas Iscariot had an evil heart and lust for gain, which brought about his death. An evil heart and lust will make you plan to do things you wouldn't normally do!!!
4. David and his sin brought about the death of his son. (II Samuel 12:15)
5. Samson's courting of Delilah indirectly caused his blindness. (Judges 16:17)
REMEMBER: Living right is the best thing in life. When you break God's law, it will break you. Sometimes you need to blame yourself. LIVE RIGHT OR SUFFER. The devil can't make you! He can only tempt you. If you are on the wrong territory, the devil has the advantage. On the right territory, you have the advantage.
UNFOUNDED DISAPPOINTMENT
If you don't know the whole story, it can cause many problems. You need to know the whole truth. Emotions will put you in a ditch. LEARN to control your feelings.
Some disappointments are actually unfounded.
1. The disciples thought Jesus was dead, and their disappointment was unfounded. (unfounded disappointment - does not exist, the devil makes you believe a lie)
2. Mary & Martha thought Lazarus would be gone until the final resurrection.
3. At the tomb Mary Magdalene searched for Jesus, only to find out later that He had risen.
4. Elijah was disappointed and said, "I am the only one to witness for Jehovah." God said, "I have 7,000 left." (I Kings 19:18) Elijah didn't know the whole truth.
5. In English history, the story is told of a large sign in the fog which read, "Nelson defeated. . ." and England wept. After the fog lifted the English read the whole sign with joy, "Nelson defeated the enemy."
Don't be down in the mouth, when you don't know what you are talking about. You should never make a big decision until you know the whole truth. Investigate first. Be sure you get ALL your facts straight before you make a decision.
UNAVOIDABLE DISAPPOINTMENT
Disappointment sometimes comes as a result of conflict between individuals, other times as tensions between standards of good and evil. This kind of disappointment cannot be avoided. Then we must STAND up strong and let the adverse winds blow, knowing that Christ is our anchor. Be more willing to be disappointed with people than disappointing to God.
UNBEARABLE DISAPPOINTMENT
1. Some disappointments are humanly unbearable. These we must take to Christ. If you don't know which way to go - go to your room & PRAY. (I Corinthians 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. JESUS CAN FIX ANYTHING, NO MATTER HOW UNBEARABLE IT IS TO YOU!!!
2. We must never succumb to disappointments. We must triumph over them. We must be masters of our lives. (I John 5:4) For what soever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Your faith in God's Word will ALWAYS cause you to overcome!
3. Through Christ's strength, love and patience we can overcome unbearable disappointment. Those disappointments, unbearable by human standards, can be changed when we recognize God's hand in our lives. (Romans 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. IF YOU STAY IN GOD'S WILL, HE WILL COME TO YOU AND PUT YOU OVER!!!
4. Through unmasking fears and using faith, we gain victory over unfounded disappointments. (John 8:32) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
5. When we put Christ first with Christian ideals and realize that we live in an imperfect world, we can accept unavoidable disappointment. (Romans 5:3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.
6. Disappointment changes dramatically with only one letter altered. Change the "d" to "H" and it becomes "His appointment." Disappointment can give you stronger faith. Its ALL in how you handle the disappointment. GOD LOVES YOU AND THROUGH HIS WORD HAS MADE A WAY FOR YOU TO WIN. When you murmur at bad situations that's a sign of weakness. PRAISE & REJOICE ! This will cause God to work for you. WHEN GOD WORKS FOR YOU - REMEMBER - YOU WIN!!!
Life is how you handle it - stop complaining - make it exciting - YOU have to make that decision.
(2 Corinthians 4:8,9) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
4 pairs of expressions of sufferings:
1. Hard pressed, but not suffocated
2. Puzzled, but not utterly baffled
3. Pursued, but not caught or outrun
4. Struck down, but not out of the fight