Is there something that you’ve been waiting on, praying for, and it didn’t come through? Our hopes are raised. We start making future plans. We’re just moving along with life and things are good and then… bam! Things go in a different direction. Things don’t go your way. It can leave you deflated, frustrated, disappointed, and wondering where God is. So, how do we deal with this?
Keep reading. If you’re trying to figure it out right now, or you just want to be prepared for when it does happen, because it inevitably will, we have three things that you can do to get through this. Let’s get right to it.
Where Was God?
So, where was God when this happened? He was with you the whole time. He knows everything about your situation. And He knows you’re feeling sad or disappointed. But why does it feel like He forgot us? Why does this happen? We may never know the answers to those questions. As Christians, we have the Bible to try and help us understand what’s going on during these moments, but the simple explanation is… We’re not God.
This isn’t to belittle or oversimplify anything someone’s going through. There are some serious situations and big disappointments that people are dealing with. If you have some heavy stuff you’re carrying, I hope you’re talking to close friends and family. We were not built to endure hard things alone, even though it might be what the enemy’s trying to tell you right now. It’s still important to recognize that we are human. We don’t know the future and we certainly can’t predict it. We can’t see how one step in life that may feel negative leads towards another step that’s twice as positive. If we trust God, we don’t need to understand everything.
Three Steps to Overcome Disappointment
So, what are we supposed to do when things don’t go our way and it leaves us feeling, well… not great? Here are three things that you can do right now to try and get through this time.
1. Dig Into God’s Word
First, dig into God’s word and commit it to your heart. Chances are that things won’t go your way again. God gives us the instructions on how to frame up our thoughts. We have to be able to recall what He has said to be able to apply it to our situation. Here are several scriptures for you to consider, as you think about what is happening:
– John 16:33 – “I have told you these things so that in me, you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world.”
– James 1:12 – “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
– Jeremiah 29:11 – “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”
– Proverbs 19:21 – “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it’s the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
The more we can understand God’s word, the more insight we will gain on how He designed us, who He is, and what promises He has for us. It will help us grow in our faith and help us apply it more often.
Read more about how to read the Bible better.
2. Trust and Surrender to God
We can be upset, sad, disappointed, and still trust and surrender ourselves to God. It’s okay to feel down that something didn’t end up the way you expected. But we need to switch quickly to trust God’s authority over the situation. We can be sad or disappointed that something didn’t go our way, and we can trust God for His plan. We can be sad and disappointed and be glad that God protected us from something. We can shift our thoughts to be grateful that God has a different plan and that He knows what we need and what would be better for us. Surrender the situation. Let Him carry all the details. Trust Him for the outcome.
– Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Trust Him to work things together for good. But don’t use the 24-7-365 as the time measurement for evaluating when God will come through for us. His timing is different than ours. He has something different for us, but it could come together next week or five or more years from now.
3. Pray
God still wants us to talk to Him, ask Him, and let Him work it all together. Tell Him how you’re feeling about the situation. If you’re angry, you can tell Him. He can take it. Ask Him for wisdom and peace and to see things like He sees them. Thank Him for the opportunity where you learn something. Talk to Him about what you would like to happen next and acknowledge you’re willing and want His will to prevail. Prayer can help you process feelings and if you get quiet… You may be able to hear from God.
– Philippians 4:7 – “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Read more about making Prayer a Daily Habit.
Bonus Suggestion: Surround Yourself with Trusted Friends and Family
Seek out support from the people that you love. Don’t let the enemy catch you alone in your thoughts until you’ve had more recovery from the shock or disappointment. You need to be around people that you can talk to about what happened and gain a different perspective. Find people that will pray for you or people that will help you think about something else for a little while. Not that you ignore what you’re feeling, but sometimes taking a break from the upsetting emotions can help you relax and settle down and have some short-term relief.
If you don’t have people like this in your life, this may be one of those things that God can use to work a situation together for good. Maybe He’s using this as the proverbial kick in the seat of the pants to get you involved in a church or small group. Go to the church website, talk to a pastor about how you can find a small group, life group, Sunday school, class support group, or whatever your church calls it. Get involved. It’s one of the best investments of time you can spend. Read more about the benefits of connecting to a Community.
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