Disappointments

disappointment |ˌdisəˈpointmənt| noun the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one's hopes or expectations: Life brought her many disappointments.

Disappointments in life are inevitable. Jesus said himself in John 16:33 that, “In this world you will have trouble…” Jesus didn’t say we “might” have trouble or we “may” face adversity. No. He told us, with all confidence, that we should expect trials and tribulations in this life.

But Jesus also ended that verse with a hopeful proclamation when He said, “But take heart! I have overcome the world!” Disappointments may be unavoidable in this life, but we are not without hope! In fact, the book of James tells us to consider trials as beneficial for us because they have a way of making us better through the refining process!

“When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy! For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4

Disappointments, trials, and tribulations are exactly that. A refining process. Think about it… when you experience hardships in life, your true character begins to rise from within you. When you experience financial hardships—what is your first reaction? Faith, or fear? When your spouse does something that annoys you or makes you angry—what is your first response? Irritation, or love?

We need to start seeing hard circumstances the way the Bible tells us to—as something that creates perseverance within us. Something that refines us and makes us more holy, more righteous, and more like Christ. After all, isn’t that the ultimate goal?

Trials refine us just like fire refines gold. If you look up the refining process for gold and silver, you will find that heat from fire is used to remove impurities like dust and dirt from the precious metal to make it absolutely pure. This is what God does with us when he puts us through the “fire” to test our faith!

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.” 1 Peter 1:7

We don’t like the refining process when it’s happening to us, but it will always teach us something if we allow it to. You don’t have to like the refining process to appreciate the change it creates within you. When I look back at my refining and disappointing moments, I see now how these things were actually serving to advance God’s plan in my story. I didn’t like what I went through, but the point is always in the process and what we allow God to do with it!

We may not always understand the reason, but we can praise God for the result—even before it comes! Similar to working out physically, it is hard to enjoy the pain in the process until you start to see the results! If there was no reward, it would be difficult to appreciate the discipline it takes to maintain an active lifestyle. Growth is always uncomfortable. It never feels good. But it is always necessary to reach our highest potential and to become the best version of ourselves.

I wouldn’t choose the pain I’ve experienced in life, but I don’t think I would change it either. Disappointments have led me to find a deeper strength and relationship with God that I never knew I could have. Refining moments strip away everything we don’t need so we can become more like Christ. Refining moments require us to draw our strength and courage from God to proceed to the new level He is calling us to.

I realized long ago, that whatever area of my life was under attack is the area I am about to prosper in. The areas where I was attacked were the areas where I was about to advance. I’ve learned to allow valleys to become my peaks. Things that once broke my heart and disappointments that shook me now push me and teach me to cling to Jesus. Through struggle, He showed me what strength and peace look like in the storm. When we choose to trust in Jesus through our momentary trials, He will turn our fear and worry into hope and joy. He will comfort, even in chaos.

It requires mature faith to look at something bad and see it as an instrument of change, as a blessing in progress. The more I’ve gone through, the greater His glory has been in my life. I’m now able to see that what the enemy meant to harm me with, actually served to push me up to a new level, every time.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many.” Genesis 50:20

There is always purpose in our pain. Be encouraged today, that between the affliction and the overcoming, He is always our source of strength and our place of power!

XO-

Sabrina