I suppose a lot of us “kids” are disappointed every time it happens. You’ve seen the reaction. Every forecaster in town has predicted snow or ice. We know it may not happen, but we go to bed with hopes that school could – just might – be canceled tomorrow.
Tomorrow arrives. We awaken slowly, still hopeful, ready to turn over and go back to our dreams. Mom comes into the room. We sense her presence as she looms over us, dreading the task before her.
She announces that we will be late for school! There were no cancellations. There was no snow – no accumulation – no snowmen, no snowball fights, no snow angels.
That’s OK. We learn to deal with it. It’s a small disappointment, and by the end of the day, we’re usually fine. However, other disappointments are not as easy to handle.
The team has been winning all season. They have a real chance to win the championship. They only need to win one more game. As the clock ticks down to the end of the game, the team has the lead. Then, at the buzzer, the other team scores. It’s over.
You are sick of your job, and you’ve applied for a different position. You agonized over the opportunity. You’re confident; the interview went well; you’re more than qualified. Then you get the call: you didn’t get the job.
You dealt with the disease. You followed doctor’s orders. You rested. You took your medicine. You suffered through side effects and inconveniences. Then the doctor gives you the news: it’s back.
You looked all your life for a Godly mate. You think you found her. The relationship progresses nicely. You’re comfortable with each other. You think this might be the one. Then, out of the blue, she tells you it’s over.
Tom Norvell asks, your hopes are gone. Your dreams have faded. What might have been, will not be. What do you do? How do you deal with the disappointment?
When those following Christ faced their great disappointment and saw their dreams dying on the cross, they were confused and afraid, but they waited, they hoped, they prayed, they listened, they opened their eyes, they opened their hearts, they saw Jesus, they believed, and their disappointment turned to joy. Jesus’ appearance to them after His death renewed their faith, reinforced their hope, and their disappointment turned to joy.
No one can promise that if you pray hard enough, you’ll wake up to snow and school will be canceled, but if you look for Jesus in your disappointment, you will eventually find joy.
It doesn’t pay to worry about such things. I hope we all understand and believe the words of Christ, recorded in Matthew 6, beginning in verse 24. These were the verses that rolled over and over in my mind as I sat and stood in the waiting room at the hospital after taking my wife to the emergency room, a few years ago. Both of us were concerned that something had gone wrong, that major surgery may be necessary, that our lives had suddenly taken a turn. My mind kept coming to some of these words. The phrases drifted in and out of my head as I waited for word, any word, of her condition.
Reference Matthew 6:24-34:
Tomorrow arrives. We awaken slowly, still hopeful, ready to turn over and go back to our dreams. Mom comes into the room. We sense her presence as she looms over us, dreading the task before her.
She announces that we will be late for school! There were no cancellations. There was no snow – no accumulation – no snowmen, no snowball fights, no snow angels.
That’s OK. We learn to deal with it. It’s a small disappointment, and by the end of the day, we’re usually fine. However, other disappointments are not as easy to handle.
The team has been winning all season. They have a real chance to win the championship. They only need to win one more game. As the clock ticks down to the end of the game, the team has the lead. Then, at the buzzer, the other team scores. It’s over.
You are sick of your job, and you’ve applied for a different position. You agonized over the opportunity. You’re confident; the interview went well; you’re more than qualified. Then you get the call: you didn’t get the job.
You dealt with the disease. You followed doctor’s orders. You rested. You took your medicine. You suffered through side effects and inconveniences. Then the doctor gives you the news: it’s back.
You looked all your life for a Godly mate. You think you found her. The relationship progresses nicely. You’re comfortable with each other. You think this might be the one. Then, out of the blue, she tells you it’s over.
Tom Norvell asks, your hopes are gone. Your dreams have faded. What might have been, will not be. What do you do? How do you deal with the disappointment?
When those following Christ faced their great disappointment and saw their dreams dying on the cross, they were confused and afraid, but they waited, they hoped, they prayed, they listened, they opened their eyes, they opened their hearts, they saw Jesus, they believed, and their disappointment turned to joy. Jesus’ appearance to them after His death renewed their faith, reinforced their hope, and their disappointment turned to joy.
No one can promise that if you pray hard enough, you’ll wake up to snow and school will be canceled, but if you look for Jesus in your disappointment, you will eventually find joy.
It doesn’t pay to worry about such things. I hope we all understand and believe the words of Christ, recorded in Matthew 6, beginning in verse 24. These were the verses that rolled over and over in my mind as I sat and stood in the waiting room at the hospital after taking my wife to the emergency room, a few years ago. Both of us were concerned that something had gone wrong, that major surgery may be necessary, that our lives had suddenly taken a turn. My mind kept coming to some of these words. The phrases drifted in and out of my head as I waited for word, any word, of her condition.
Reference Matthew 6:24-34:
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for you life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for you body as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they read, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span?
And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith?
Do not be anxious then, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “With what shall we clothe ourselves?” For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Of course, as most of you know, the news from our hospital experience was quite the opposite of what we feared. Truly, our disappointment was turned to joy, and thankfulness, and hope.
Don’t let worry and disappointment defeat you. Keep hope alive in your heart! Trust Jesus!
Don’t let worry and disappointment defeat you. Keep hope alive in your heart! Trust Jesus!
