I have the opportunity to sit with many people who are experiencing disappointment in life. Many times, even when we are doing the best we know how, we find ourselves disappointed with where we find ourselves in life at the time…
We don’t get the job…
The ministry doesn’t appear to be working…
The marriage unravels…
The children go astray…
The business fails…
The spouse cheats…
Having faced disappointment many times in life, I’ve learned a few things about handling these times.
Here are 7 pieces of wisdom for the disappointments of life:
Keep your heart close to God during times of disappointment. God is most likely at work in ways you cannot presently see or understand. Often disappointment ushers in some of the greatest seasons of God for your life. Don’t miss it by not listening to Him.
Wait for your emotions to heal before you make major decisions. We tend to make irrational decisions immediately following times of disappointment. Let some time pass and make sure you are thinking rational again before you implement major changes in your life.
Don’t quit until the next thing comes. While you shouldn’t make major changes, an equally dangerous tendency to give up or stall until the next opportunity arrives or lives gets “easier”. You may need a resting period, but keep your mind and hands busy doing what there is to do today. It will help protect your heart and mind from the attack of fears and doubts.
Don’t allow a disappointment to determine your sense of self-worth. Let God and the people who know you best help determine that. You don’t have to be defined by your disappointment.
You are not alone, even though it may feel that way. Disappointments are a part of everyone’s experience. There is likely someone who has experienced the same type disappointment. Don’t be afraid to find them and let them walk through this period with you.
Learn everything you can from this period. We learn some of life’s best lessons during times of failure and disappointment. Don’t miss the value of experience.
Move forward when the next opportunity presents itself. Too many people become paralyzed after a period of disappointment, refusing to ever move forward again. Living an abundant life requires risk-taking. You will have to walk by faith again if you ever hope to escape the moment of disappointment.
Learning how to handle disappointments will make your life better and help you grow during these times. What wisdom have you gleaned from times of disappointment?
