Sunday, April 21, 2024 AM
LESSONS FOR LIVING: Dealing With Disappointment
Mike Teel, Pastor
FOCAL PASSAGE:
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. 7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. 9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. —Psalm 42:1-11
THE
OF DISAPPOINTMENT
5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? 6 My soul is downcast within me; —Psalm 42:5a - 6a
–I believe we all know too well the sting of disappointment in our lives.
–David confessed to being disappointed or downcast as he described it.
–The one thing we know is that “disappointment” was a true experience of David’s life and it is a true experience of our lives as well.
–The reality of “disappointment” is this. If we are not able to break free from it, we will find ourselves suffering from deeper emotional issues – discouragement or even depression.
THE
OF DISAPPOINTMENT
9 I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? —Psalm 42:9-11
–David states for us his disappointment – He was disappointed in God, life situations, etc.
–Have you ever been disappointed with God? (Remember He knows everything!)
–When we look closely at the disappointments of our lives, we quickly see they are tied intricately to our “Expectations of life”.
Proverbs 29:18 says… Where there is no vision, the people perish:
–Please note there are two types of expectations: Unrealistic (cannot be fulfilled) and Unrealized or Unfulfilled (possible for them to be fulfilled just has not happened yet).
*Proverbs 13:12a … Hope deferred maketh the heart sick *
–So, what is the emotion we feel when we have an expectation, and it is unfulfilled?
Life Cycle of Expectations:
Unrealistic (unfulfilled) “Proverbs 13:12”
Disappointment (irritated) “Romans 8:24-25” we have hope
Discouragement (arguing) “Proverbs 21:9, 19; 25-24” hope is diminished
Defeat (anger) “Proverbs 10:12; Ephesians 4:31” love waxes cold
Doubt (hopeless) “Ezekiel 37:11; 33:10” begin to give up
Depression (useless) “Job 2:9” Why go on?
Death (termination) emotional and/or physical.
–This is ultimately the goal of Satan and his workers to lead us deeper and deeper into this cycle.
–How do we overcome?
THE
OF DISAPPOINTMENT
1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. —Psalm 42:1-2, 4
–When Satan attacks our expectations, we must do as the Psalmist and turn to God by looking deep into our faith – Thus ignoring the challenge of the enemy, “Where is your God.”
–Here are some concrete options for you to utilize when disappointment comes your way:
—-Make sure your expectations are realistic – if not reformulate.
—-If realistic ask yourself if your expectation has just not yet been fulfilled and in time will be fulfilled.
—-Learn the art of contentment regardless of outcome – realizing God is in control.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. —Hebrews 13:5
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. —Philippians 4:11
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. —I Timothy 6:6
LIVE IT OUT
–What were you expecting to happen that has not happened and resulted in disappointment?
–What disappointment are you dealing with concerning God?
–Dealing with disappointment means having a personal relationship with Christ and allowing Him to fulfill your needs.