Tuesday, September 3, 2013

When Facing Disappointment.

 "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31) 

Because sometimes when you're
expecting something, it just doesn't happen.

I like to do nice things for people. It brings me joy. I don't expect anything in return. Most of the time I do those nice things in secret. I love to stand back and watch secretly from a distance to see the expression on the recipients face when they discover what's been done for them. 

However, sometimes, I get the opposite reaction. People have actually gotten angry! Or worse...there is no reaction, no response whatsoever! Then I start to doubt and I think, "Oh what's the use? Why bother?" In that moment I start to become disappointed.

But in the instant just before that moment, God reminds me, "Did you not know? Have you not heard? Remember? My strength never runs out! I understand ALL that you are going through! But, if you'll just wait and be patient, I won't let your effort go unnoticed. Wait! Just see what I'm going to do with it!" 

Life comes with many disappointments. We lose jobs, we fail tests, our relationships fall apart or they never become the reality we dreamed they would be, we lose loved ones to disease and death, life doesn't work out like we planned. Through it all, God with his everlasting strength, wisdom, and knowledge will renew our spirit so that we can sore like eagles.

Wait and see!

Prayer this week: Lord, when we become disappointed (and we all do sometimes) may you gently remind us to be patient as we wait to see what you will do next for us. May you increase our strength so that we may run this race we call life...and not grow weary.