142. Overcoming Disappointment 

Every one of us has experienced disappointment but not every one of us has processed our disappointments in a healthy way. Maybe you are someone who has sat in your disappointments for years or maybe it’s the opposite and you have stuffed and ignored them. Tune in to this episode as Caroline shares the disappointments she has walked through and how to overcome disappointments in a healthy, Biblical way. 

Bible Verses

Luke 17:1  “Then he said to his disciples, “It is impossible that no offense should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!”  NKJV

Matthew 11:6 “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” NKJV

Matthew 11:6 “The blessing of heaven comes upon those who never lose their faith in me – no matter what happens!” TPT

Psalm 142:1-2, NET:

“To the Lord I cry out; to the Lord I plead for mercy. I pour out my lament before him; I tell him about my troubles.”

Psalm 55:22, NIV:

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Psalm 34:17-18:

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 62:8:

“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”  

Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Topics Discussed

Disappointment

• Disappointment is defined as “sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations.”
• Everyone has experienced disappointment.
• There are two ‘camps’ when it comes to disappointment: either you ignore disappointment and you never deal with it, or you sit in your disappointment and have not found healing.
• We have to find the middle ground.
• God’s heart for us is to find healing.

If not dealt with, disappointments will lead to:

• Sadness, regret, dismay, sorrow, despondency and displeasure
• Create open wounds and frustrations
• Causing you to believe lies instead of the truths from God’s Word.
• Opens doors for the enemy to write your story.
• Offense against other people or even God

Lament

• Lament is defined as a passionate expression of grief or sorrow, which is exactly what we are going to do today.
• Lamenting is not the same as complaining.
• A lament is a prayer expressed to God based on disappointment and grief.
• Lamenting to the Lord will lead you to healing.
• A complaint is expressing a displeasure and questioning God’s goodness, which will lead to more disappointment, anger, and sin.
• God wants us to bring our disappointments to Him.

Practical Ways to Process Disappointment:

1 – Get honest with God. Don’t sugarcoat it. Tell God exactly how you are feeling. He already knows, so there is no reason to hide it. You can do this through prayer and conversation and/or journaling.

2 –  Renounce any lie or negative spirit you have believed and close the door to the enemy. This action will break off any attack of the enemy and re-open the communication lines with God.

3 – Receive from the Father what He wants to give you. What does He want to replace your disappointment with?

4 – Spend time in praise, worshipping God and thanking Him in advance for turning your disappointments into new appointments.

My Disappointments

• I don’t have babies yet but as I continue to wait for them you have given me many to mother.
• I didn’t get to fill the nursery at our old house, but I had 9+ years of spending time in prayer and worship in those rooms.
• We have not seen the manifestation of Colby’s body yet.
• I have given up a lot to minister to others and in turn my motives have been doubted, second-guessed, slandered, gossiped.

Powerful Quotes

“If you don’t deal with your disappointment, it will often lead to an ungodly belief.” – Caroline

“The enemy will do whatever it takes to get you to build a case against God.” – Caroline

“If we don’t lament and express our sorrows and frustrations to the Lord, we will get stuck in our disappointment.” – Caroline

“Lamenting will lead to healing.” – Caroline

“God hates complaining.” – Caroline

“The Lord can’t deliver us if we do not seek Him.” – Caroline

“God wants to do something new in your life!” – Caroline

“For every disappointment you are facing, there is a new appointment that God has for you.” – Caroline

“Our disappointments can be our very places of hope.” – Caroline

Join the VIP  Facebook Group: Facebook Group
Follow A Cup Full of Hope on Facebook and Instagram: Instagram • Facebook
Follow Caroline on Instagram and Facebook
Instagram • Facebook