Praying
TO OVERCOME DISAPPOINTMENT
Helpful Scripture
Romans 8:28 - We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 147:3 - He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds
Galatians 6:9 – And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Starting Points
There are many times that we experience disappointment in life and, most of the time, it is as a result of a failed expectation. Relationships fail, employment ends, we experience loss or we fail to achieve our hopes and goals.
Disappointments in life can lead to depression, anger and fear and we can become disappointed with God.
Often, we pray about a situation and it feels like God does not hear us or, if He does, He chooses not to answer. We can pray repeatedly about a particular issue or desire and not see the outcome we had in our mind. This leads to disappointment and doubt - and we stop praying.
Prayer is an essential part of our relationship with God. The closer our relationship to Jesus, the more we get to know Him, His word and His will for us.
When we seek Him, our prayers become more in line with His plans for us. We have to trust that He knows what is best for us and the bigger plan for our lives and the people around us. When we look at Joseph’s life, it had many trails and injustices which at the time would have been very disappointing and traumatic. However, God was preparing Joseph for a very special mission and at the planned time he became a leading figure in Egypt, saving not only the nation but his family and bloodline also.
Sometimes we ask God for things but our heart is not right. We pray with selfish intensions or make plans without seeking the Lord and then we want Him to bless those plans. When we do surrender our will and our walk to the Lord, we place ourselves in the right position to receive all the abundant blessings that the Lord has for us.
When we feel disappointed, remember that we have a Father who knows what is best for us and we need to trust Him even when we do not understand.
How Do I Pray?
In my disappointments, I seek Your peace, Lord. A peace that surpasses all understanding, that calms the storm within my heart. Replace my anxious thoughts with a sense of serenity that can only come from You. As I navigate these choppy waters of disappointment, may Your peace be my anchor.
Help me to trust in Your timing and Your plans, for You make everything beautiful in its time. Remind me that what seems like a disappointment today may be part of a greater blessing tomorrow.
Lord, we ask that you heal our broken hearts and our crushed spirits, of the disappointments we face every day. Remove the heaviness within our hearts and give us the strength to forgive. Help us to release the past and continue moving forward.
Give us the power to look beyond the disappointments of now and remind us that everything happens for a reason. Remind us that you, oh Father, will make all things work together for our good. In Jesus’ name, Amen!