I arrived before Stan one morning. When he sat down, I said, “You better be ready for some disappointment.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Ricky said there are no blueberry pancakes this morning because there are no blueberries. It’s hard to make blueberry pancakes without blueberries!”
“You’re right,” Stan said, “big disappointment. But I don’t think the world is going to end!”
“Besides,” he continued, “that gives us the opportunity to talk about being disappointed in God.”
“Disappointed in God? You ever been disappointed in Him?”
“There were many times in my early Christian days when I was disappointed in God, but as I matured in my relationship with Him, He showed me that any such disappointment had its roots in my misunderstanding, not in His character.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” I said. “Isn’t disappointment a fact of life?”
“It is,” Stan responded, “but that doesn’t mean it’s to be fact of my life with God. He does not disappoint. Any disappointment in God that I might feel is likely the result of my having told God what I wanted Him to do and He didn’t do it.”
Continuing, he added, “I think my role with God is to see what He’s doing and join Him in that activity, not telling God what I want to do and expecting Him to join me in my activity.”
“Join Him, not the other way around. That’s the way to avoid disappointment?”
“That’s how I see it,” Stan replied. “And the best way I have found to avoid being disappointed in God is for me to get myself out of His way, be who He has for me to be, do what He has for me to do, and follow Him wherever He wants to lead.”
“If I am truly His disciple, there’s no room for me to be disappointed in Him. Disappointments in this life will come, but they are not to come from my misunderstanding of my relationship with Him. I have to keep our relationship in the right perspective. He’s God; I’m not. He knows; I don’t!
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Bible verses to consider:
And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5.
Sustain me according to Thy word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope. Psalm 119:116.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for showing me that you do not disappoint. Please forgive me for all of the times I have been disappointed because you did not do what I wanted you to do. Thank you for showing me that such disappointment is the result of my immaturity in my walk with you, not anything to do with your character. Thank you for showing me that you want me to see what you are doing and join you in that, rather than telling you what I want you to do and then be disappointed when you do not follow me and my self-focused desires. Thank you that I can and do bring all of these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you ever been disappointed in God because He did not do what you wanted or expected Him to do? If so, what was that all about? Do you think that the best way to avoid any possible disappointment with God is to stop telling Him what to do? Why or why not? What is the best way to pray so as to not be disappointed?
Waiting for the Train 