(The Four Faces of Disappointment – Part 2)
I’m not asking for much. I just want all my expectations fulfilled, and a complete removal of all limitations.
Of course… then I wouldn’t need God. Then I’d BE God.
Disappointments are a startling, sometimes rude reminder that the job of God of the Universe has already been filled.
Yesterday I mentioned that in my own experiences of painful disappointment, like the experience of the children of Israel, four “faces” of disappointment have emerged. The first two were delays and distressing people. But I have found two other ways that God deliberately allows us to “feel the burn.”
3. Dead Ends
These have to do with measurable limitations – things like life expectancy, dollars, and distance. Dead ends often lead us to question God’s integrity, because He seems to be contradicting Himself.
It’s like one man said, “I thought becoming a Christian was the end of all my troubles.” It is – the front end!
Examples of dead ends are everywhere:
- You save and scrimp to get your bills caught up, and just when you do, you lose your job…
- You have trouble in your marriage, and just when you are healing it up, your spouse dies…
- You have to have a certain amount of money by a certain date, and you pray, and trust God as much as you know how, and it doesn’t work out…
As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’“ (Exodus 14:10-12, NLT)
We often celebrate the fact that God led them through the Red Sea. We celebrate the fact that He destroyed the Egyptian army. But how many times have you heard someone glory in the fact that that same God put them – or you – at a dead end in the first place? God uses measurable limitations to show you how immeasurable His power is.
So what do you do when you’re caught between the devil and the deep blue sea? Moses had the right idea:
Don’t be afraid! Stand still, and see what the Lord will do to save you today… The Lord is fighting for you! So be still!” (Exodus 14:13-14, GW)
4. Dry Holes
Anytime you get your expectations up, and those expectations aren’t fulfilled, that’s a dry hole. And it doesn’t matter how many miracles you have seen, or how spiritually mature you are, dry holes have the capacity to paralyze your faith if you let it.
After enjoying a little Big-Bad-Wolf-Is-Dead party, the Israelites journeyed to a thirsty place.
Literally.
With God as their guide.
On Day 3, they found what they were looking for – pools of water! But the water was undrinkable, and they’d had it. It was off to Moses for another round of “This is your fault!”
Then he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet (Exodus 15:25, NASU)
Hmmm. I know another tree that turns bitter stuff into sweet.
“There He tested them” (Exodus 15:25). That’s what dry holes are – a test. Unfortunately, the Israelites blew it with their complaining. What they didn’t know was that just over the hill were 12 springs of water (how many tribes?) and 70 palm trees (how many elders?). God already had the refreshment they needed.
The character they needed? That was a different story.
Your disappointments are anything but random – they are a kiss from the sovereignty of God. And while nobody gets out of bed praying for another round of delays, distressing people, dead ends, or dry holes, you can rest in knowing that God is wiser than your wishes or expectations. And He’s faithful – even with the pain of your letdowns.
