My very hope that gets me out of bed every early morning is coffee, I know this sounds shallow, but it’s what I look forward to while I’m getting ready upstairs, it is my morning ritual and I love it! And…my husband most always has it ready for me before he leaves for work!
So, imagine my disappointment when I came downstairs one morning, this morning being particularly icky…I walked right up to the coffee area, got my cup out, went to pour and what? the pot was empty…and there was a note. The note read, “Tea Time maybe? I forgot we were out of coffee! So sorry! Have a great day!” I literally let out a long and loud “NOOOOO.”
I recently experienced another disappointment, something not as simple as my coffee drama but a deep hope, a four year long prayer dashed in one conversation…it left me heartsick! Have you experienced something similar?…maybe a position you had hoped and prayed for was given to someone else, who you “knew” was way less qualified, or maybe another person was asked to do something that you had so hoped would be asked of you? Or an offer on a new home rejected, or you wake up one morning to find you are out of coffee (my personal worst nightmare). The list could go on and on, and if you shared your disappointment with others, they might not see it as significant at all, but to you, you are heartsick!
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life."
Proverbs 13:12
The problem with dashed hopes and disappointment, isn’t how you feel, but with the thoughts that come, which can quickly turn stinky! Like bad thoughts about the people who made the decision that shut you down. Or maybe you become instantly “judgy” about their intentions! This is a perfect opportunity for our enemy to get a foothold! Right? I have learned that anytime I start having stinky thinking about a person, that it is usually a red flag that I am giving Satan a seat at my table! We say and sing that God is always at work, that he knows what is best for us, yet it is hard to remember those truths when disappointment comes!
Prayer Tip #13 - Let the disappointment strengthen your character,
not cause you to sin!
We have to remember to put our Hope in Jesus, not in our expectations or hopes and dreams!
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Romans 5:5
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.”
Psalms 39:7
Give that disappointment to Him! He will remind you that He is working! We can trust Him!
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and
which enters the Presence behind the veil,”
Hebrews 6:19
Prayer Points - Pray over these requests:
Praise God that He is Sovereign and has a specific plan and purpose for your life this day.
Praise God that He uses all our disappointments in life to make us stronger and to make Him look good.
Pray for God to reveal truth to you in “heartsick” moments. Refuse to believe the lies.
Pray for wisdom and insight into your disappointments so that they strengthen your character and not cause you to sin!
Suggested Prayer - Pray these words in your heart or out loud:
Father,
Thank You for giving me a specific purpose for this day. I praise You for leading me and guiding me and being my ultimate Teacher in life. Please help me to respond to disappointments in my life with the correct attitude and thinking. Help me to remember to trust You and to put my hope in You, not others or my circumstances or my desired outcomes. And help me to live this day believing You are at work always!
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.