Dealing with Disappointment

Philip Brooks wrote, “Life is full of ends, but every end is a new beginning, and we are continually coming to the point where we close one chapter, but we always can turn and open a new and better and a diviner chapter.”

1 Chronicles 17, we read of King David’s noble and honorable desire to build a temple for the Lord. However, God spoke to Nathan the prophet, stating, “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not build Me a house to dwell in,’ ” (verse 4, New King James Version). He is told that someone else would accomplish this task, his son Solomon, and is then given a special promise (verses 11 to 14). Disappointed, yet not embittered, David submitted to the purposes of God (verses 15, 27), and devoted himself to the preparations necessary in order that his son might construct the temple for Jehovah (1 Chronicles 22, 28, and 29).

Alan Redpath wrote, “I think sometimes He has more to teach us from His denials than from His permissions.”

“Disappointment His appointment, Change one letter, then I see
That the thwarting of my purpose, Is God’s better choice for me.
His appointment must be blessing Tho’ it may come in disguise,
For the end from the beginning Open to His wisdom lies.
Disappointment His appointment, No good thing will He withhold:
From denials oft we gather Treasures of His love untold.
Well He knows each broken purpose Leads to a fuller, deeper trust,
And the end of all His dealings Proves our God is wise and just.
Disappointment–His appointment, Lord, I take it, then, as such,
Like clay in hands of potter, Yielding wholly to Thy touch.
All my life’s plan is Thy molding, Not one single choice be mine;
Let me answer, unrepining– ‘Father, not my will, but Thine’.”