Dealing with Disappointment

Have you ever felt disappointed? Plans that fell through. Relationships that didn’t turn out. Prayers that went unanswered. Regardless of how much I did, prayed, wished, or hoped, I found myself sad, disappointed and discouraged. 

So, what do we do with our disappointment? Fortunately, we have great biblical examples to learn from. 

First, let’s look at Naomi in the book of Ruth. Her husband and both sons died. How did she respond? “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?” (Ruth 1:20-21). She blamed God and chose to be bitter.  

Now let’s look at Job. He, like Naomi, had tragedy strike his life. All his children died, he lost all his wealth, and he became sick. How did he respond?  “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped” (Job 1:20). He turned to the Lord in worship.

Both Naomi and Job faced intense circumstances; yet each responded differently. Naomi chose disappointment and bitterness while God was still working in her life. When her daughter-in-law ends up marrying and having a son, the women in Naomi’s life declare, “Praise the LORD, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” (Ruth 4:14-15)

Job turned to God in worship and had an encounter with the Lord. He ended up with a right view of the Lord and even prayed for his friends that had been so hard on him. “When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before” (Job 42:10). What a transformation!

Let us respond to disappointment by taking it to the Lord. He knows our hearts and will speak truth to us if we will listen. “Therefore we do not lose heart. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).