We all have disappointment in life. This is part and parcel of life. We can get disappointed with life, we can get disappointed with people, we can get disappointed with our leaders, and if we are leaders, we can get disappointed with our followers or disciples.
What is the definition of disappointment?
We can define it as 'sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one's hopes or expectations'.
It means something that you've hoped for, or something that you expect, whether in other people, or in any area of life, are not fulfilled. And that's how people get disappointed. Of course we can also cause disappointment to others. So, it can be two ways. We can get disappointed. But we also can disappoint others.
We can cause disappointment to others in our decision on something. And who we are or what we do may disappoint some people who have certain expectation of who they want us to be or what they want us to do. If we are not who or what they have expected us to be or to do, they get disappointed with us.
So you see, there are two ways - we can get disappointed, but we can also disappoint others. Our expectation of people, and people's expectation of us.
However, we must remember that we do not live to please people or please people's expectation of us. We live to please God. We follow His instructions for us, even if some people are not happy with us or are disappointed with us. The most important thing is to stay true to who God wants us to be and what God wants us to do, and keep looking to God. We please God, and not man.
But here's the good news. There are ways to deal with disappointment. There are ways to alleviate disappointment. There are ways to overcome disappointment. Here are 5 ways you can do so:
1. Learn to let go and forgive
1 Peter 5:6-7 says, 'Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.'
Cast all your care upon the Lord. And this includes casting all your disappointments upon the Lord. And let Him begin the process of healing in your life, whatever may have disappointed you, or whoever may have disappointed you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 says, 'Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.'
Just as God in Christ has forgiven you, therefore you forgive others. Forgive those who have disappointed you. Forgive those who have not met your expectation regarding who they are and what they do. You know why? Because if you allow disappointment inside of you to fester, it will lead to bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and even evil speaking. And this is definitely not good for health. It's only going to hurt you more. So, learn to let go and learn to forgive. And that's how your life will be happier, healthier, and more peaceful!
Psalm 30:5b says, 'Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.'
Whatever disappointment that causes sorrow to you, let the bygone be bygone, let the past be past. Today is a brand new day. You know what? This is the day that the Lord has made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Indeed, joy comes in the morning. It's a brand new day for you. So, look forward, look ahead, and look not behind you.
2. Learn to release and bless
This is just as important as Point Number 1. Because without a release, your life will be held back. You cannot move forward the way that you should be. And without blessing, there will be no closure to the situation that you are disappointed with. So, learn to release and learn to bless. That's how you can move forward in your life, and that's how your life can be light and easy.
Psalm 34:18 says, 'The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite heart.'
Whatever sorrow or sadness due to your disappointment, whether at your life, at people, at the authority, at your leader, or even at your follower, release them and bless them. Bless, and not curse. The Lord is near to you. The Lord understands your situation. And the psalmist wrote the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart. Indeed, He is here to set you free. He is here to help you to overcome. He is here to heal you and restore you.
Romans 8:28 says, 'And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.'
Sometimes, a certain disappointment in your life can be turned around into a great new appointment. God will know how to work things out for good for you. After leaving one phase of your life, the Lord will know how to move you on to the new phase of your life. And sometimes the Lord allows certain things to happen that causes you to be disappointed, so that you can be released to walk into the new, the brand new appointment that the Lord has for you.
So, take heart, beloved of God. The Lord knows what He is doing in your life. You keep looking to Him. You keep loving Him. You keep allowing His unfailing love to fill you. And He will know how to lead you from here.
3. Look to God, not to man
Man can bound to disappoint you, but God will not disappoint you. If you flow with Him, if you align with Him, if you humble yourself before Him, and if you live a yielded life to Him, He will not disappoint you. He will always show you a way. And He will always guide every step of your way.
Colossians 3:23-24 says, 'And whatever you do, do it heartily (with an abounding heart, from the heart), as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.'
1 Corinthians 15:58 says, 'Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.'
Man may overlook the good that you have done, but the Lord will not. Therefore, look to God, and not to man.
The Lord is a great Rewarder. The Lord knows exactly how to reward you for every thing that you do as unto the Lord, even those things that you think are trivial or minor.
Romans 5:5 says, 'Now hope does not disappoint. Because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.'
Because the Lord your God loves you so much, He gives you hope. And this hope that He gives to you will not disappoint, when you look to Him and put all your trust in Him.
4. Put your trust in God, not on the world
The world can bound to disappoint you. The people in this world can bound to disappoint you. Remember, you are living in a fallen world. You are living in an imperfect world with imperfect people around you. Whether these are your family members, your relatives, your neighbors, your boss, your leaders, your colleagues, or even your followers, your subordinates, or your staff, all these people may disappoint you. That's why it is so important to learn to put your trust in God who is your solid Rock, who cannot be shaken.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.'
Trust in the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding. Because the Lord sees further than us. Because the Lord knows better than us. Because the Lord knows what is ahead of us, when no one else in this world can.
Psalm 27:14 says, 'Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!'
The word 'wait' here can also be translated as 'hope'. So, as you put your hope on the Lord, He will know how to strengthen you. And you can therefore mount up again with wings as of eagle. You will run and not be weary. You will walk and not faint.
5. Readjust your expectation on people
Readjust your expectation on certain so and so. It can be a family member, a friend, a leader, or a follower.
Maybe we have too high hopes or too high expectation on somebody. And if that somebody does not meet what we expect of them, we get disappointed.
Psalm 73:23-26 says, 'Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.'
It is so reassuring what the psalmist wrote here. Indeed, sometimes our flesh and our heart may fail. But the Lord our God is the strength of our hearts. The Lord our God will forever be the strength of our lives, if we do not give up looking to Him and putting our trust in Him. That's why this psalmist wrote in verse 23, 'Nevertheless I am continually with You'. See the word 'continually' here?
Beloved of God, this is your time to be set free! Be set free from whatever disappointment that you have, whether it's due to people's wrong, or due to your own expectation and hopes are too high on certain so and so, or on a certain circumstance or situation.
I declare by faith that you will come forth victorious, come forth happier, and full of the shalom peace of the Lord, ready for what's ahead of you, and ready for what He has in store for you. The best is yet to come! Amen!
