Dealing with Disappointment

What does it feel like when God calls you or tells you or shows you what He has for you down the road a bit? When He puts a desire in your heart to walk a certain path? Are you ready to see it come to pass now? Do you get excited and jump right in with two feet, doing whatever it takes to make it happen?

What does it feel like when it seems like no matter what you do, no progress is being made to get to that place God has shown you?

It is difficult. It is disappointing. When you are ready (or think you are) for more of what God has, but other things (people, circumstances, or fill in your own blank here _________) get in the way, it sometimes feels like doors are closing, or trees are falling down and covering the path, or even you have come to a crossroad and have no idea which way to go.

It feels like more should be happening. You don’t know whether to push ahead on your own power or to sit back (disappointed and frustrated) and wait to see what happens next.

I remember about five years ago, after God made his calling on my life clear to me and I was struggling with the idea (Really, Lord? Me? In ministry? But I am so flawed!), He spoke very clearly to me through Elizabeth’s words to Mary in Luke 1:45:

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” (Italics mine.)

You see, Mary didn’t have to do anything except believe God’s words to her – He sent His Spirit, He formed the child in her womb, He took care of her by sending His angel to Joseph, He led them to Bethlehem – the list could go on and on.

Blessed is she (he) who believes – not who goes out and tries to make it happen before God has deemed it time. Blessed is she (he) who believes – not she who doubts because it doesn’t seem to be happening the way she thought it would. Blessed is she who believes.

You see, what seems like the way we think God should work isn’t how He does it. Isaiah 55:8 says, “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.” He can see the whole picture when we see only a drop of paint on a canvas. He can see beyond time when all we can see is this moment.

I have learned much about waiting over the last five years – waiting to see what God has in store for me down the road, and waiting to see what His next step for me will be along this path to pastoral ministry. It is not always easy – I am a planner and a doer and sometimes I start to get disappointed when I don’t see things moving and happening on my schedule – but I have learned (and am learning daily) that my job in all of this is to believe that what my God has called me to, He will bring to pass in His timing and in His way. I believe that He shows me each step to take. and I believe what He will do is far greater than what you and I can do on our own.