Overcoming Your Disappointments

1.  Introduction:

· God speaking to the Church about Supernatural life – Ordinary people doing extra ordinary things.

· Requires faith, compassion, holiness, friendship with God.

· Mark 6:3-6  - atmosphere of unbelief resists the supernatural – must develop faith.

· Jesus was undeterred by people’s attitude – remained focussed on purpose.

· People in His own countryside “offended” – resistant – cut themselves off from supernatural.

2.  Impact of Disappointment:

Hebrew 11:1  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for”

• Hope = positive expectation, to look forward with expectation.

(i)    Natural hope – positive attitude of expectancy – new events, achievements.

(ii)  Spiritual hope – positive attitude of expectancy based on the Character of God.

• Romans 15:13 -“Now God of all hope fill you with joy and peace through believing”
• Must believe: God is good; God is faithful; God keeps His Word.
• If person’s life connected to God, that’s in His hands then that person can expect good things.
• Romans 8:28  -“all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose”
• But what happens if hope is deferred i.e. experience disappointment?

Proverbs 13:12  -“hope deferred makes the heart sick”

Definition of Disappointment:

      => an appointment that never happened as expected.

      => something you anticipated / expected never happened.

      => something you didn’t anticipate / expected happened.

Disappointment Accumulate unless Resolved:

- when many disappointments occur there is personal impact.

  i)  Grief over the loss.

 ii)  Reactions out of hurt, pain over loss

      * Distrust    * Bitterness / resentment    * Complaining, negative speaking.

Proverbs 19:3  - his heart rages against the Lord – unbelief exposed.

      Rages = angry, sad looking, boil over.

iii)  How a person self react from disappointment – won’t trust again – withdraw.

iv) From beliefs about people, about God that separate, hinder faith.

- the devil come to use as he came to Eve – Genesis 3:1  -“Did God say?”

  => Do you continue to trust God? Look out for yourself.

3.  Disappointment = Opportunity in Disguise:

• The men in the Bible faced perplexing situations and disappointments.
• Disappointment = opportunity for growth, character and faith deepen.
• Adversity can forge deep friendships or produce bitterness – Choice!

(a) Examples:  People Made Bad Choices.

· John 12:46 - Judas – disappointed – sought personal gain – betrayed.

· 2 Kings 5:20 - Gehazi – disappointed – sought to extract $ from ministry.

· Numbers 12:10 - Miriam – disappointed – complained about Moses.

· Psalm 78:51-  Israel – disappointed – hindered God, turned back in heart.

· Mark 4:12 - Believers – disappointed – unproductive and unfruitful.

(b) Examples:  People Made Good Choice.

· Job 13:15  - Job – disappointed – trusted, changed, double blessing.

· Genesis 45:7  - Joseph – disappointed – trusted, forgave, promoted.

· Psalm 105:19  - Joseph – “tried” = to test or prove, quality of, refine metal.

· 1 Samuel 30:6  - David – disappointed – trusted – encouraged self in Lord.

“encouraged” = fasten upon, seize, courageous, to conquer, be scare in, become resolute.

· 2 Corinthians1:7-9  – Paul – disappointed – trusted, embraced the Cross.

4.  How to get  over Disappointments:

Luke 24:13-33  - Disciples on the Road to Emmaus.

· Disciples disappointed – travelled to Emmaus – hot-springs, comfort.

· Evidence of Disappointment:

i) Fellowship centred on disappointment.

ii) Reasoned – tried to make sense of it.

iii) Unable to see what God is doing.

iv) Countenance sensed.

v) Withdrawing from the call of God to place comfort / security.

Keys to Overcoming Disappointment:

i)    “Come near”   =>  Time in the Presence of God.

ii)   “Communicate”  =>  Responsibility for negative words and action.

iii) “Sad”  =>  Face why disappointed – unmet expectations.

iv) “Fools” => repent of unbelief, self centres expectations and belief.

v) Expanded  => Time in the Word of God, Purpose of God, Cross / Resurrection.  

vi) Blessed and Broken  => Renew your commitment to the Lord.

vii) Rose up and retrieve =>  renew your commitment to the Call of God.