1. Disappointment - the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations
2. Browns fans know all about feeling disappointment (with humor)
3. What does the Bible teach us about disappointment?
4. How should we react?
5. How do we cope?
A. Job experienced disappointment
1. In his wife - Job 2:9
2. In his friends - Job 16:2
B. David experienced disappointment
1. He suffered disappointment within his own family
a) One of his sons raped his half-sister - 2 Samuel 13
b) Absalom murdered his brother, Amnon - 2 Samuel 13
c) Absalom tried to kill him - 2 Samuel 15
2. Ahithophel, a close advisor betrayed him - 2 Samuel 15:1-37; Psalm 55:12-14
3. He was often disappointed in himself - Psalm 51:1-9
4. He had to watch his little baby die because of his sin - 2 Samuel 12:1-23
C. Paul experienced disappointment
1. At one point, he was abandoned by a co-worker - Acts 13:13
2. False brethren made accusations against him - 2 Corinthians 11:22-28
D. Jesus experienced disappointment
1. He was betrayed by one of His disciples
2. His own siblings did not believe in Him - John 7:3-5
3. His countrymen rejected Him - Mark 6:3
4. At one point, He got so discouraged, He asked His disciples if they were going to leave Him too - John 6:66-67
E. WE ALL WILL FACE DISAPPOINTMENT IN LIFE
1. Disappointment in our earthly families
2. Disappointment in our spiritual families
3. Disappointment in ourselves
4. Disappointment in our heroes
5. Some even feel (unjustified) disappointment in God
a) - Psalm 77:7-9
b) - Lamentations 3:1-8
A. When others disappoint you, remember God’s faithfulness
2. God will never let you down
3. God is with you; even during your trials - 1 Corinthians 10:13
4. "When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."
5. If the disappointment involves someone sinning against you:
a) Remember that you are not perfect either - Matthew 7:1-2
b) Be Ready, Willing, and Desiring to forgive - Luke 17:3-4
c) Don’t be hypocritical and don’t hold a grudge
B. When you disappoint yourself:
1. Remember that God knows your heart; Hebrews is willing to forgive you
a) Be willing to forgive yourself - 1 John 3:20
b) Confess your faults to Him, repent, and He will forgive you - 1 John 1:9
2. Focus your eyes on Jesus
C. When you are tempted to be disappointed with God:
1. Readjust your expectations
a) A person who is disappointed with God believes that God has not lived up to His promises
b) God has never promised us a bed of roses
c) In fact, He tells us we will have the opposite - 2 Timothy 3:12
d) Realize, though, that your trials are temporary - 2 Corinthians 4:17
e) God does not offer freedom from trials in this life but He does offer it in the next one
2. Remember that any evil that has befallen you or your family is not the work of God - James 1:13
3. Remember that all things will work out for your good - Romans 8:28
1. Disappointed?
2. Learn to overcome disappointment in your life by:
a. Remembering God’s faithfulness
b. Learning to forgive both yourself and others who disappoint you
c. Realizing that your disappointments are only temporary problems
3. Keep your eyes focused on the goal - pleasing God and joining Him in heaven - Are You Saved?
-- Ralph Price at Streetsboro, January 2010 --
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