You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, to the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:11-12, Amp.

     Not long ago I got an email from a woman who poured out her anger and disappointment with life and with God, who could do something about all of it, but was strangely silent. That angered her more. She listed all the things that were causing her pain, and then said that maybe I could help her.   

      How? I was not sure how to respond, because in the midst of her tale of sorrow and disappointment were “answers” that she had been given that maybe worked for others but not for her…things like, “I know you are going to say that God cares, but I sure don’t see it.” “You are going to tell me that God will help me, but year after year He hasn’t, and I’m mad about it!”

     The truth is we will all have disappointment. All of us. And maybe all of us at times have been angry about what feels unfair and undeserved. If we’re not careful, the effects of disappointment can lead to our destruction, steering us away from God and His offer of grace and mercy to help us in our time of need. So we have a choice: will these disappointments empty us or empower us? Will they define us or refine us? In other words, will we listen to the thousand voices that tell us we deserve better and are entitled to much more? OR will we allow disappointment to move us toward a deeper and more intimate place with the Lord?

     As crazy as this sounds, we have to receive this disappointment, rather than resist it. When we resist it, we refuse what is happening…which sounds like a great idea, except it doesn’t make what is happening go away; it just makes us more resentful. (Trust me, I know!)

     When we say, “Ok, God, I don’t like this, but You’ve allowed it, so I receive it from You,” we can find the grace we need to move forward. Hidden in our disappointments are life lessons that give us opportunities to make greater strides in our journey of faith. Then God can make something beautiful out of these ashes.

     “It takes great courage to allow the fire to refine you when someone else is guilty of lighting the match. But still, God wastes nothing; He’ll use every injustice, every pain, and every circumstance to make us more like Him (if we let Him). He’s especially gentle with the humble, repentant heart.” (Alone in Marriage, Susie Larsen)

     Some thoughts about dealing with disappointment: “Abide in Christ. Trust in His goodness. Determine to get His perspective and don’t lean on your own understanding. In the midst of it all, be good to others. Give out of your pain, and you will see everyday miracles. This is the fruit-bearing life.”

God can “take away your clothes of mourning and clothe you with joy”(NLT). Begin thanking Him, by faith, that He will turn your disappointment into a dance floor.

*What is the biggest disappointment you are dealing with right now? Write it down and ask God to speak to you about it.

Holy Father, You see my hurt and pain and You promise to turn this disappointment into a divine appointment as I walk with You through this barren land. You will come through for me. You will restore my life and redeem every lost thing. Give me the grace to wait in Your presence until I see Your goodness. Oh, how I need You. Thank You that I can trust You. Amen.


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