You prayed, you cried out, you did everything you were able to and medical science couldn’t help, you convinced others to pray for you, you were anointed with oil and prayed for, yet all to no avail. Times of hope alternated with times of despair. Days turned to weeks and months, and still, God did not heal. Dreams were shattered, and sorrow pressed in. Bitterness towards life and a God who ‘did not answer’ crept in. If it sounds like I’m speaking from first hand experience, I am.
Disappointment in God is common when faced with ‘unanswered’ prayers. If you allow disappointment to remain it will soon become discontent which will turn to discouragement. Unchecked discouragement turns to doubt and then to disenchantment (bitterness). That is a most difficult place to return to close relationship with God from, so it is best to nip all disappointment in the bud.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: John 16:33
-Meaning of tribulation- pressure, suffering, pain, burdened, misfortune or distress, trouble
3 Things to Remember:
Every blessing is also a possible pain.
-blessing of marriage turns painful when spouse is unfaithful.
-blessing of pregnancy turns painful after miscarriage.
-blessing of a great job turns painful when long work hours keep you from your family.
Pain and suffering in life is the price we pay for belonging to the human family.
God works with us to help us overcome the pain of body, mind and heart.
Also, God answers all prayers, just maybe not how we expect:
-Sometimes He intervenes (does a miracle)
-Sometimes He answers to all mankind (polio vaccine)
-Sometimes He doesn’t eliminate pain, heal, or do what we want rather allows us to bear it and gives us strength through it.
So, how do we deal with disappointment?
-Stay honest with God verbally, after all, He already knows what’s in your heart so you might as well tell Him. “…pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us… (Ps. 62:8)
-Seek the help and comfort of others: “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2) and “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” (1Th. )
The whole verse about tribulations speaks of God’s peace He can give us: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) and it also reminds us that no matter what we go through in our journey on earth, there is a great and glorious future awaiting all born again believers where there is no more tribulations. (Rev. 21,22)
Then when you have endured the hardship (2Tm. 2:3), you can help others: (God) Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2Cor. 1:4) And this will show Christ’s love: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34)
Don’t give in to disappointment, instead, disappoint the enemy of our souls by dealing effectively with it, and not giving up on life- or God.