There’s nothing quite like disappointment to reveal what we really think.
A.W. Tozer wrote: ‘What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.’
Disappointment then, can be a deal breaker for us, or a notice that we are about to be sent to take a course that will upgrade our knowledge and prepare us for a promotion. Disappointment can reveal weaknesses in our assumptions about God and either cause us to turn back or motivate us to press on and pursue him to learn about the aspect of himself that he wants to show us next.
Pioneers learn to handle disappointment well because they need to learn from their own mistakes, simply because there aren’t that many ahead of them who have gone this way before. Learning from one’s own mistakes has the unexpected bonus of appreciating the wisdom and experience of others when the opportunity is there. Pioneers also learn to discern the difference between the wisdom of those who have pressed on in spite of set-backs, and the negativity of those who are sitting in their own disappointment, watching it congeal into bitterness.
God is good and nothing is impossible for Him. There’s always more to learn about him and he wants to draw us into deeper relationship. Keep going.
Charis: Subject to Change 
What a priceless little child your photo holds …
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A lot of people are very fond of this little guy. And God loves him even more.
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It’s a good thing that our disappointments are momentary, although they seem earth shattering. Love how God takes what seems like our biggest defeat and turns it into victory!
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To a two-year old boy whose mother restricts sugary food to rare occasions, the loss of ice cream is an utter tragedy. But we know in the course of a lifetime it is really not a big deal. I wonder if God looks at the things that upset us in the same way. In the great grand scheme of things he has many more wonderful things planned for us.
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I’m sure God looks at the circumstances we face as only a blip in the map of eternity. My cry is to see from his perspective not mine!
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Indeed.
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Years ago, I read a book called “Disappointment With God” by Phillip Yancey. When I first saw the title, it sounded a little like a spoiled child who didn’t get what they wanted… but after reading the inside flap and the back cover, I decided to read it. I was going through a very difficult time in my life where I had lost loved ones and was feeling such a deep sense of loss and grief. As I read the book, the tears streaming down my face, I saw things in a way I’d never looked at before… the author tried to turn the tables and present things from God’s perspective. I was only in my 20s and hadn’t realized many things yet… about life, about God, about people, about me. (I’m still learning)… Your post made me think about this book because of your title. I still recommend this book whenever I counsel someone who is grieving or who has an attitude of entitlement. Either way, the words A.W. Tozer wrote still ring true today. Btw, that photo you posted is great! It tells the story… no need for caption! haha 🙂
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Thanks for the recommendation. You are a wise woman.
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