Disappointment With God
Let’s face it, at some point we have all felt disappointment with God. Whether from something tragic or God not providing the way we feel He should have. We have all felt it and rarely do we know what to do with it so we attempt to cover it up.
Our house is officially on the market. It’s strange to think that by the end of August we will more than likely be without a home, traveling the country until God shows us our next step. God’s hand has been very evident in this process as He continues to provide and give us what we need. However that doesn’t keep doubts from creeping in. It’s crazy how quick I can go from trusting God to doubting He will come through. Nothing has even go wrong yet, but still there are times I feel God has let me down.
Here’s what I know. It’s easy to feel disappointment with God when things don’t go the way we planned or when it looks like things won’t go the way we planned.
So what do we do? What do we do when we feel disappointed with God? At some point we will all feel let down because of what God let happen or didn’t make happen.
I’ve had my fair share of moments I’ve felt that disappointment. Christmas of 2011 stranded on winter break from college I spent alone in a semi-strangers home. I didn’t know what to do or where to go. I was stuck in a place without my friends and family. I felt abandoned and forgotten by God. I was there training to be in ministry yet God wasn’t coming through how I thought He should. So I went to the only open gas station and bought a case of Miller High Life and a frozen pizza. Hands down, the worst Christmas ever.
I’ve learned a lot since that Christmas. Sometimes life only makes sense in hindsight; I can see things now I couldn’t see then. While in the moment I thought God had forgotten about me, in hindsight I can clearly see how God was providing and caring for me. I still don’t know why things had to happen the way they did. But I do know God brought me through it, and I am a better follower of Jesus because of it. I am convinced God’s way is always better than my way.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned since then is that I need constant reminders of who God is. It’s so easy in difficult moments to forget that God is with me, He cares, and He will provide. Without those reminders it’s impossible to remember God’s promises and it’s far too easy to get overwhelmed with disappointment.
John Piper says it like this: “But take these truths and day by day focus on them. Preach them to yourself every morning. Get alone with God and preach His word into your mind until your heart sings with confidence that you are new and cared for.”
That’s what I’m doing differently this time. Constantly preaching the truth of the Gospel to myself. When I get discouraged, I remind myself that God will bring me through it. When I don’t understand what is happening I remind myself that God’s plan is so much bigger than my perspective. When I feel that God isn’t coming through I remind myself that God’s timing and ways are much better than mine.
Listen, you will be disappointed with God at some point. In fact Jesus promised troubles and hardships if we are to follow Him. But He also promised to always be with us. Take heart in that. God is with you, preach that to yourself daily. Don’t let yourself forget that the God of the universe is with you and will not forsake you. Things might not make sense until we see it in hindsight on the other side of this earth. But God is constantly working things out for the good of those who trust Him.
When one gives his or her life to Christ, they become a new creation. Now we are not living for ourselves but for Christ. If we were to get angry or disappointed with God, this is a clear sign that one has not fully given oneself to Christ. This feeling of disappointment is temptation or sin that makes every effort to divide us from Christ. When it creeps In, we must recognize what it is and analyze our self so to be sure that we are In Christ and Christ In us. If we live for Christ then it is impossible for him to disappoint us.
I don’t think the feeling of disappointment is a sin. Just as temptation is not a sin. I think it becomes a sin on how we act on it. I have been angry and disappointed at God several times in my life. That in itself is not a sin. It’s a sin depending on how I carry that out. God wants my heart where I’m at, I don’t need to hide my feelings. I need to bring them to him.
I’m not sure your last statement is true. I look at the stories in the Bible and many of them felt disappointment with God at some point. Many people I have talked to have felt it. When you lose a loved one, or a job, or life is just difficult how could you not feel at least a momentary disappointment? Think of a parent that just lost their young child, how could they not feel disappointment? The Christian life is not an easy one. I think God understands that since he walked in our shoes. He understands we won’t always get it. I think there’s room for disappointment if we bring that back to God and not run away with it.
If you want a great book on this, Disappointment with God by Philip Yancey is a GREAT read.
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May God’s grace sustain you where your intellect can’t take you.
I liked your quote, sometimes I have found myself forgetting the lessons that I’ve learned in life, when that happens the challenge usually appears again, almost as if hinting ‘hey, remember me?’
I enjoyed reading your blog. Something I learned some time ago in a class called, Power for Abundant Living, was that God will not ever overstep our freedom of will. Trust me there have been many times I “wished” He would just take over, but it doesn’t work that way. God requires that we believe what He said, with full persuasion from our hearts. For that reason I’m never disappointed with God because I know when things don’t come to pass, it is always due to a failure to be fully persuaded on my part. God is faithful to His promises and to you my friend, His wonderful son! Thanks for being one of the folks who stand for God!
One would never be disappointed by YAH’ (GOD) again if only he’d realize that it is not his expectations that are to be met, but rather HIS.
I needed to hear this tonight. Thank you for following my blog so I could be led here. May you feel God’s hand in everything.
Curtis,
I’m now a blog follower and thank you for following mine.
I’ve never been disappointed in God. The short answer is I don’t believe in him. He isn’t logical.
I think you’ve seen the long reason on my blog in Suffer the little children http://wp.me/p6rU0t-4Q
Good words. We may never know what the Lord was doing in our lives and why until we meet Him face to face, but we must trust Him always that He knows what is right and good.
Thanks for liking my blog
Such an honest post. I understand what you’re saying. It is very difficult to realize that what we want, or think we need may not be what God has chosen for us. But just like you said, prayer is here to help us and lead us.
Pray is our connection to God and an authentic relationship with him. I doubt Jesus could have made it through his trails without his regular connection to the Father.
Reblogged this on Fertiileground's Blog and commented:
The Lord our God shall ne’er forsake us_ _ _
Thank you so much for sharing!
Reblogged this on New Christianity.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Inspiring post! Thank God that for every test there is a testimony. For each of us trials are inevitable, it’s not if, but when, and remember this: God works everything for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.
Keep the faith, keep strong and thanks for your follow.
God knows best.
Thanks for the encouragement! I look forward to connecting!
Excellent post! It’s imperative that we as Christians understand that faith in God isn’t based on how we feel but on what God says in His Word. So if we were to place our faith in our human feelings, we would have stopped trusting God a long time ago due to the fact there’s a huge conflict between what God says and what our human feelings would want us to believe.
Jesus never said following Him would be easy, He did say He would be with us.
Hey Curtis, thanks for stopping by my blog. Looks as if you’re blog will be an encouragement to me too. Look forward to reading more….
Thanks for stopping by and checking it out!
Amen! God will never leave us or forsake us no matter how difficult the situation might seem. We’ve moved around a lot. Moving is always a situation that can remind us to lean on God. I’ll look forward to seeing where God takes you!
It is a great reminder that God is in control and we need not worry!
What a great piece! It’s so hard to turn over all things to God. It’s such a challenge to trust in the unseen. However, I believe that it is the questioning mind that has the greatest understanding of God. If we knew His will, what would be the point of this amazing, frightening journey that we are all on. I hope to see more from you. Radical Christianity is so darn difficult. God be with you!
It’s all part of living a good story, a story that only God can tell.
It rains on the good and the bad alike.
Why? Suffering can make us stronger. Not usually though.
Where is the Christian community? Shouldn’t they ensure you’re not on the streets?
I mean, I wouldn’t be doubting God in your place, and I’ve been there, I’d be asking where everybody else has disappeared!
I believe tough times either make you stronger or break you. It’s up to each person to choose. Will we choose to trust God or get through it ourselves.
You are right, unfortunately some Christian communities don’t like to follow those into the tough seasons. I believe it’s not vicious rather they simply don’t know what to do to help so they leave. This doesn’t make it easier. I’m sorry you have experienced that abandonment. We have been blessed to still be supported through our transitional season. But I know there are many who don’t have that experience.
I amaze myself in how easy it is for me to develop idols out of the things I want in life. Even those things we think of as blessings from God, like a good family, can actually, interfere with my relationship with God because I want those blessings so badly. Usually, when I’m disappointed in God my desires aren’t lining up with His or I’ve let an idol creep in. When I trust Him, like you say, He is faithful to reveal the problem to me. It’s taken a long time but I think I’m finally getting to the point of being able to accept what He wants for me instead, of pouting when He doesn’t do things they way I want Him to. Trusting God is something to be grown into.
Amen, thanks for stopping by and adding to the conversation!
Thank you for reading and following holdingforthhisword. I appreciate this post that you have shared. I remember specifically an instance when I thought about what was going on in my life and that either God was failing me, or I was at fault. I decided that I was at fault and that God is true. There are some who can fall away from God because of their disappointment. We have to remember and believe what He says in His Word and know as you said more than once, His ways are so much better than our (my) ways, as the heavens are higher than the earth. God bless us.
I believe that difficulty will either bring us closer to God or let us drift away. It’s up to each person which path they will take.
Stay in God’s Word and feed on Christ the bread of life. As He himself said “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has life eternal, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:54) He will bless you in all circumstances.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Curtis, I just wanted to thank you personally for your “like” and “follow” on my WordPress blog. It was the article on why I still follow Jesus Christ even when the church pushes the world away. Thank you so much for taking the time to read it and to follow my blog. It really means the world to me.
Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to connecting!
It is refreshing to see someone else with similar feelings toward God… I stay connected with God by singing hymns (I am a musician) because that can ward away the devil and revive your spirit… I also stay connected with God everyday on the way to and from work or traveling by keeping my radio on Moody Bible Radio… I love listening to John McArthur, Janet Parshall, Alister Bagg, Rovi Zacharias, Tony Evans, Erwin Lutzer etc….. God can change you over time to become more like Jesus… He gives us trials to make us stronger persons, but with the trials he gives us a way to get thru it… I will say a prayer right now Curtis for you and your family… I feel like you are a brother in Christ… Thank you for coming to my website (ArmesAssociates.com) and liking some of my articles… Please return… God bless and lead you my brother… God always has a way….
Thanks for stopping by! I too enjoy listening to Christian speakers, it’s a great encouragement and reminder! I look forward to reading some of your posts!
Such a great read! I think when you’re in ministry there’s a temptation to “preach it” to others only, even when you reach that point where you don’t believe it yourself. But we need to start with ourselves and proceed from there.
That is so true, often it’s easy to tell others what to do and totally forget how to apply it to our own lives.
I have learned a valuable lesson throughout the 30 + years of being saved. When troubles arise I immediately start praying Lord what is the lesson you are trying to teach me through this and he always shows what it is. As we face troubles going through them with the Lord strengthens our Faith in him.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13. And when you look at Ephesians 6:10-17, as it talks about the Armor of GOD we must always remember that there was never a piece of protection or armor for our backs, that is because as christians we are never to retreat from troubles, or trails we are to face them head on the only difference is Jesus goes into battle with us
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Thanks for stopping by and the encouragement! You are right, our strength is not found from us rather from God.
Thanks for following my blog and for helping our family grow. Also Awesome read
Thanks for stopping by!
Good write.
Jesus calls us to have a personal relationship with the Father, but if you treat him like a distant, unseen entity then you will never achieve a personal relationship. Our modern concept of prayer only makes it harder to accomplish. Prayer, at its’ very basic concept, is a dialog with God, not a list of thanks and petitions, but a real dialog. I have praised him, questioned him, confided in him, even yelled at him, just as I have my closest friends here. If you constantly hold him at arms length by treating him as something to be held in awe then you will always be at arms length. Feeling disappointment is just one of those emotions that we share with those we are closest with, and if you feel that with God then you are showing just how close a relationship you have with him.
You are right! Thanks for stopping by and adding to the conversation!
I really needed this right now as I am going through transition in my life and dealing with health issues. This really resonated with me 😀 Thanks for the follow!
I’m glad you found this encouraging! Always remember who you are and who’s you are!
Your words are such an encouragement. Thank you! 🙂
Thanks I appreciate the encourage! I’m glad you found this helpful!
Thank you for your honesty in this post. Im going through a lot right now and this has blessed me tremendously. Thank you and you continue to be encouraged in the Lord!
I’m glad this was able to help and encourage you!
Great post. Honest and raw, but like Job in his sufferings, never sinning. Thanks for the follow my end too, really appreciate it, I’m just starting out so thanks for joining my band of merry followers!
Thanks for reading! I look forward to reading your posts!
Nice read.
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing such heartfelt words! So many people are brought down by disappointment, especially when they feel disappointed by God! Love the idea of preaching to yourself! The more we reiterate God’s promises, the more meaning they will have. Prayers and blessings to you and yours as you take a huge step of faith in moving forward according to His will!
Thank you! We all need reminders, often we think someone else needs to give them to us. Which is true, however we can also remind ourselves.
Beautifully written! I’ve been going through a “disappointment period” for about 24 hours. Thank you so much for this reminder. Best wishes and blessings to you and your family!
I’m glad it was a helpful reminder!
This is so true. I’ve been there. Like you said, we’ve all been there. I wrote “Where Was God?” in the aftermath of one of such experiences, in case you’d like to read it.
There’s a reason for it all. God is not careless or wicked. He is Good. All the time. Be encouraged 🙂
Thanks for the encouragement! I will certainly look up your post!
Great blog, thnk you so much for stoping by, and for the follow. God bless you!
Anthony
Thanks!
You re welcome 🙂
Great post! I pray that God will continue to be with you on your journey, as he takes you into something even greater!
Thanks for the comment and the encouragement!
Reblogged this on Concierge Librarian.
Thanks for sharing!