Ministry Resources

Disappointments

Author: Nancy A. Stevens

“The paper is late again!”

I told my husband after going outside our apartment building to look for it for the sixth or seventh time. I could feel my frustration level rising. Our rushed mornings leave little extra time to spend searching for the newspaper, or calling to report a missing one. But then, we suddenly lost hot water, which meant we would have to make one more phone call to request assistance.

A few nights before, we had found water leaking from our bathroom ceiling due to a problem in the apartment above us. Fortunately, the people who maintain our apartment building are usually quick to respond to our calls for help. But when you face a multitude of frustrations, they tend to have a cumulative effect, especially if noisy neighbors have kept you from sleeping several nights in a row.

Sometimes we allow the little disappointments and frustrations to accumulate. Because they seem small, we think that we can handle them; yet, they color our mood and negatively affect our outlook. As Scripture says, it’s “the little foxes that ruin the vineyards” (Song of Solomon 2:15, NIV). We may think that we are successfully coping with them, only to erupt with anger at the next delay or disappointment.

Instead of trying to deal with them on our own, we should take each one to the Lord. When we first become aware that we are irritated because of some minor inconvenience or delay, we should immediately breathe a prayer for grace and help. After all, our Heavenly Father knows exactly what we are facing and how we are feeling inside.

We must recognize that we live in a fallen world where things go wrong at the worst possible times, and difficulties and challenges are a part of life. Although the Lord loves us, He does allow trials and problems–including multiple frustrations and disappointments–for a reason. If we fume and fret over each one, we may miss the insight the Lord wants to give us.

As we commit the frustrations to Him, He will give us more strength to overcome them. When we continue to bring even small problems to Him, we will be better prepared to face crisis situations and major challenges. Eventually, giving our Father each problem will become a very beneficial habit that we do immediately whenever something goes wrong. This will greatly contribute to our emotional well-being and help us to develop an abiding sense of peace.

“Now that we know what we have–Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God–let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all–all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help” (Hebrews 4:14–16, The Message).

Are you struggling with frustrations and disappointments? Why not bring each one to God? He is big enough to handle everything.

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