Conquering Disappointments
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to observe hurt, sadness, frustration and dismay on the faces of our fellow man. It is evidence that tells us of great disappointments that consistently shadow mankind. We witness this in men’s actions, his words and body language. It is perhaps one of the great emotional diseases of our times. This disease is not only evident in the world but has covertly infiltrated the body of Christ.
In 1 Peter 5:6-76 we’re instructed by Jesus through the Holy Spirit to “humble ourselves 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.” As spiritual beings in human form it is, at times, difficult for us to reconcile a passage in scripture that says “we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” Romans 3:23. However there are ways to become over-comers.
To conduct a war that results in victory over disappointments we must have a definite change of heart. In order to be able to “cast all our cares upon Him” we must first accept Jesus and then build an intimate relationship with him. By doing so we recognize that humility is priority. One of the many blessings that results by having this intimate relationship with Jesus is peace, nothing missing, nothing broken. Jesus said in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.”
Whatever disappointments occur, sickness, job loss, broken marriage, broken relationship with a child, a neighbor, employer or a friend, there is a peace you can experience…a peace that is beyond all understanding. Phil 4:7. This will happen if you let go, forgive, and cast all your cares on Jesus. Because Jesus was fully human and fully divine we know from his Word that he suffered for us with heartache beyond measure…persecution few of us suffer today. There was loss. There was great disappointment, immeasurable pain and sorrow. We can all look at his human life that ended at the cross and know without any shadow of doubt that he experienced it all. When Jesus looked down from that cross on the infamous day, his entire life and all sufferings and disappointments culminated in his wondrous statement, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
We have a tendency to believe that people purposely hurt or disappoint us knowing exactly what they’re doing. A majority of the time they don’t know what they’re doing. They don’t fully understand the gravity of the hurt they’ve inflicted. Following the example of Jesus we must forgive and ask God to forgive those who have hurt us for “they know not what they do.”
Forgiveness plays an intricate part in conquering our disappointments casting our care on him. Placing ourselves in the position of the other is a practical way to climb the mountain of disappointment. The Lord’s Prayer, recorded in Luke 11:4 says “and forgive us our sins as we also forgive anyone who is indebted to us.” Just as we share in the sufferings of Christ, (Romans 8:17) our disappointments, hurts and persecutions, we desperately need to respond in like manner modeled by Jesus.
As Christians we will have the victory in all areas of our lives if we choose his way and not ours. Be encouraged as you walk through the disappointments of life. Psalm 42:11 reads; “Why are you cast down, oh my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God.” Psalm 55:22 reads,; “Cast your burden on the Lord and he shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”
Mary Ann Kotch River of Life @ KPM (C)2015