disappointment

I won't go into details - it's probably a petty situation anyhow - but today was tough. I did, so to speak, have my 'hopes set' on something important to me and was completely let down. The strange thing is, it had nothing to do with anyone I know or love, but I felt it's effect greatly. (not to mention my dear hubby left this morning for a business trip so I had to get a long distance hug!)

But as I cried tears of disappointment, I was touched in the heart by the loving hand of Jesus. I began to realize that my focus was in the wrong place, my 'hopes' were 'set' not on the unfailing love of Christ but on fleshly desires, and that by turning my eyes upon Jesus, the things of earth truly do grow strangely dim.

We all experience disappointment. Maybe it's someone else receiving the job promotion you were seeking, maybe it's hurt from a friend or family member, maybe it's a miscarriage (been there a couple of years ago), but we will all face situations that disappoint us. The challenge, I've learned, is to remember that Christ is sovereign over things that happen to us, He is unfailing, He knows our hurts, He has suffered far beyond any pain we can imagine, and ultimately, nothing on earth matters. For those of us who love and serve Jesus, this life is nothing compared to our eternity in Heaven. How I long to see His face!

It was humbling to talk to Savannah about disappointment. She saw my tears, she wanted to help mommy feel better, and I hope she learned with me today that when life hands us something we wouldn't choose for ourselves, that we can trust in His sovereignty and rest in the truth that He will use it for His glory and for our good. (Romans 8:28) It certainly renewed my perspective today!

Here are the scriptures that redirected my eyes and heart upward today:

Psalm 13:4-6
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

I feel like I've gotten "over" today's situation now. (I'm definitely out of tears :) ) But I realize that I'm grateful for situations like this that challenge my faith, challenge my focus, and remind me that we live in a fallen world - people will disappoint us, we will experience suffering and sadness - but that Christ is unchanging.