Dealing With Disappointmen

tEcclesiastes 1:12-18

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I decided to use my wisdom to learn about everything that happens on earth. I learned that God has given us terrible things to face. I looked at everything done on earth and saw that it is all useless, like chasing the wind. If something is crooked, you can't make it straight. If something is missing, you can't say it is there. I said to myself, “I have become very wise and am now wiser than anyone who ruled Jerusalem before me. I know what wisdom and knowledge really are.” So I decided to find out about wisdom and knowledge and also about foolish thinking, but this turned out to be like chasing the wind. With much wisdom comes much disappointment; the person who gains more knowledge also gains more sorrow. (NCV)

Some quick observations There is always some level of

disappointment, even in the best of circumstances.

 Circumstances are rarely at their best.

 Life is often blatantly unfair.

Three things I want us to look:1. Defining Disappointment

2. Detecting Areas of Disappointment

3. Dealing With Disappointment

I. Defining Disappointment:

Dictionary definition: A failure to meet the expectation and hope of.

 When you look at the word DISAPPOINTMENT what do you see? DISAPPOINTMENT

DISAPPOINTMENTAnother way of defining

disappointment is to say that it is an undoing of an appointment.

Disappointment comes as a result of the break down or the undoing of our appointed plans, hopes, dreams, goals and ambitions in life.

1. We are Disappointed in Ourselves:

Life is full of choices Deut. 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, how long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

We need to remember that every choice that

we make has its consequences!

Hebrews 12:1-2"Wherefore seeing we also are

compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

2. Disappointed with others.

Acts 15:36-39 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let's return to each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are getting along.” Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not shared in their work. Their disagreement over this was so sharp that they separated.

2. Disappointed with others.

Disagreement: Not everyone will see eye to eye on every subject.

Deserted: There are those who have deserted us at a crucial moment in our lives.

3. Disappointed at God:This is one many do not admit to.

Jeremiah 20:7 O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

Jeremiah was making his complaint to God.

Jeremiah felt after being called into his prophetic ministry that God had failed to tell him of the troubles he would encounter as a result of his ministry.

He felt deceived and tricked by God.

What Jeremiah failed to do is remember that God

warned him of the danger he would encounter and the

divine protection that would be given to him for

his faithful ministry.

Jeremiah 1:18-19 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defensed city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

Three questions A. Why did this Happen?

We reason that God could have prevented this or that from happening.

This is true but sometimes he doesn't. Sometimes it is not what God can or cannot do, It is what we said or did that brought about the action.

Remember we are in a sinful world. A world that is in disobedience to God.

Three questions B. Where Was God When This

Happened? What is the difference between a

FIRE ESCAPE and FIRE PREVENTION?A fire escape is used only in

times of emergencies or in case of a fire.

Fire prevention is something that is in place to stop the fire before it starts.

Three questions C. How Long God Must We Wait. God greatest concern, CHARACTER not COMFORT.

Romans 11:33-34 (The New Living Translation) Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are his riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his methods! For who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who knows enough to be his counselor? And who could ever give him so much that he would have to pay it back? For everything comes from him; everything exists by his power and is intended for his glory. To him be glory evermore. Amen.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

III. Dealing With Disappointment:

WHEN YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED...Things not to do:Don't retaliate. Don't Rehearse It. Don't Nurse It.

III. Dealing With Disappointment:

WHEN YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED… Things to Do:

A. Make Things Right With God. Trust His sovereigntyTrust His Timing

Why God allows disappointments 1. Disappointments are good

teachers

2. Disappointments are times of adjustments.

3. Disappointments are indicators of problems that need to be dealt with.

4. Disappointments are necessary for you to be fully developed.

Commit your life to God. WHY? Psalm 25:3 (The New Living

Translation) “No one who trusts in God will ever be disgraced.”

Claim God's Promises to you. Joshua 23:14 says, “Deep in your

hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!”

Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

A CENTRAL TRUTH

YOU WILL NEVER BE WITHOUT GOD

IN YOUR LIFE. HE'S ALWAYS THERE.

GOD WILL WATCH OVER ME EVEN WHEN I'M CONFUSEDPsalm 32:8: “The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”

III. Dealing With Disappointment:WHEN YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED… Things to Do:

B. Make Things Right With Others. Disappointments don't

have to destroy your relationship with others.

III. Dealing With Disappointment:WHEN YOU'RE DISAPPOINTED… Things to Do:

C. Make Things Right With Yourself. YOU ARE YOUR WORST

ENEMY!