Overcoming Disappointments: Choose Hope Again.

Hi friend,

Disappointment is a feeling that we have all experienced at some point in our lives. It could have happened recently or a long time ago. When did it happen? What was it that caused the disappointment? How did it make you feel? Unfortunately, if we add this experience to similar situations that may arise in the future, it can lead us down a path of depression.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I believe in being authentic and transparent in my writing, and while it may be tempting to post a motivational quote about how our setbacks pave the way for our comebacks, I’d rather just like to acknowledge that well; disappointments hurt.

However, as real as disappointments can be, they also pose a significant danger. I came to realize during a certain period of my life that experiencing repeated disappointments had left me feeling emotionally numb.

You see, when you have been repeatedly disappointed it can really take an emotional toll on your heart. Subtly you can create walls to “protect” yourself, and your will to believe again can decrease little by little. The moment you feel like something good is coming your way, your mind may subconsciously drift back to the times when you were let down, causing you to anticipate the less favorable outcome. But we mustn’t stay in that place, we have to take those thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and remind our hearts that “…all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding YES” (2 Corinthians 1:20)!

The beauty of God’s Word is that for every disappointment we have experienced, there’s also a promise of restoration and a better future (Jeremiah 29:11). What that looks like, we may not know, but what we do know is that God’s got it under control! So choose to hope again, refusing to allow previous disappointments to keep you in a slump.

• So you received another email saying you didn’t get the job. Apply again for other positions until you get the “yes”.
• The last relationship or two didn’t work out. Allow yourself time to heal and then give your heart a chance to start over, trusting that God has a perfect plan for your life -in His time.
• Your business idea was rejected by investors. Go knock on some more doors.
• The scale doesn’t have the number you were hoping for after weeks of working out. Stay committed until it does.
• You’ve had a “bad” church experience. Go visit again. No one is perfect.

Discouragement is a dangerous mental trap because it can cause us to focus too much on ourselves and the disappointments, instead of being confident and focusing on our really BIG God!

Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble (John 16:33), so it’s no surprise that we will experience disappointment. Whether from others, from circumstances, or even from ourselves. Nevertheless, he encourages us to take heart,because he has overcome the world, and that includes the things that let us down.

So the next time you find yourself on the path of continuous discouragement, take a moment to ask yourself, like the psalmist, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?” Remember, your hope rests in God! You will praise Him again—He is your Savior and your God! (Psalm 42:11 NLT)

God sees you.