Dealing with Disappointment
We’ve all experienced that feeling of excitement when we get a new job, or are expecting a baby, a promotion at our job or are going off to College. Life is full of great things that we look forward to.
But what happens when the amazing things we are expecting don’t happen? That sinking feeling of disappointment can be devastating. Disappointment is defined as, “the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations”.Our emotions can be so elated for what is coming. We’ve told everyone how excited we are; we’ve made plans, maybe spent money in preparation and in an instant it just.doesn’t.happen.
The feeling of disappointment is totally natural when our plans fall through. It takes some time to process what has happened and move forward. But what do we do when those feelings hang around like a fog we can’t seem to walk out of?
We need to understand that the enemy uses hurtful situations, pain, to gain an entrance into our lives. He looks for any crack to crawl through. How do we outsmart him and his plans to derail us through disappointment?
1. Recognize that the cloud of unfulfilled expectations has hung around for too long. At some point we have to move forward and face that things didn’t work out and we need to re-access our plan.
2. Pray and ask God to give you a new fresh vision for your future. No matter what has happened God has a plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, “plans to proper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.Let God reappoint you!
3. See that your new normal holds a new excitement. If God has a plan then it has to be good! Change can be troublesome but hold amazing possibilities!
4. Realize that this change could have spared you from a greater disaster than you currently know. We often despise the disappointment but fail to see what we just avoided because of it.
I’m a real planner so it has been difficult for me to accept some major changes that I’ve experienced. But…through them I’ve learned that I can’t control my life (nor should I) I can’t control other people’s choices (dang it) and I can’t go back and change what has happened (anyone got a time machine lying around?) So that leaves me with my only option…keep going.
That sounds so simple but can take a good deal of effort sometimes! Life hits hard and it can hurt. I’m not saying it shouldn’t. But staying stuck in disappointment gets us nowhere. It keeps us from moving into what lies ahead and experiencing an amazing future. I don’t plan to waste one more day bemoaning what could or should have been. I live in today. I’m going to look forward to what is coming and plan big!
The future can be as bright as we will let it be so let’s leave the past in the past and go for all that we can TODAY! God has so much for us!