What do you do in the face of disappointment?

We all have hopes and dreams. When we fail to achieve them, it is easy to let disappointment hinder us from fulfilling our purpose in life.

Romans 5:3-5 KJV “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

What would happen if we saw every disappointment from a new perspective?

Instead of being sad that what you hoped for didn’t come to pass, rather believing that God is strengthening your character and has something better in mind.

Instead of concentrating on what was lost, focusing on what God wants to give you instead.

Instead of being overcome with sadness, turn to God and ask him to reveal to you how he wants you to move forward and use this experience as a learning curve.

I have students who does piano exams. Anyone who has gone through an exam will know that the results aren’t always what you expected. Anything can happen in an exam room. The piano’s sound can be different than the one you have been practicing on and therefore mess with your hearing. Anxiety can creep up upon you, and you look at the notes and keys and don’t see them properly. Or you can go through the whole exam confidently just to receive the results and what you thought was excellent playing on your part, didn’t meet with the examiner’s expectations.

Students normally react in 2 ways: they either quit or they take the criticism as constructive and try to improve their technique.

Much like that we have a choice in how we react to life’s ups and downs. We can either let disappointments keep us from moving forward or we can use them to excel.

As a teacher I can teach a student what they need to know and how to improve their skills with practicing techniques and ways to overcome anxiety when performing, the choice remains with them to apply what they have learnt.

Just so we can ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and to teach us the ways we should go, but it remains our choice whether we obey his instruction. Just like a student, we can decide to quit or move forward with better understanding. We can either cultivate patience and endurance, grow in experience and place our hope in a God who loves us, or become self-centred and give up hope just because something didn’t go as planned.

How can you look differently at past failures today that will cause you to move forward instead of becoming stagnant?

In your journal write down the steps the Holy Spirit reveals to you that you should take to move onto the path that God has planned for your life.

Proverbs 3:6 KJV “In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.”

May the Lord bless you and fill your heart with joy as you lean on his wisdom and direction in your life!

Catherina