Disappointment

“Disappointment”
Psalms 102:1-4

Introduction

Look at the words “disappointment” or “disappointed”
What does it mean?

Feeling a loss or a failure because your expectations have not been met.
A feeling of loss or failure because your dreams have been shattered.
Feeling a loss because your hopes were taken away.

At one time or another we have all had our expectations, hopes or dreams vanish right before our eyes.
Maybe your spouse is a disappointment to you because they didn’t become what you expected.
Maybe the company that you applied for years ago and are employed by now is not quite what you had hoped it would be.
Maybe a friend or church member has disappointed you somehow in some way shape or form.
In fact, I believe that we can all say that our country (The United States of America) has become a big disappointment to us. If it’s not the president disappointing us it is bills passed by congress or laws being passed that oppose God’s laws or something.
Let us see what the writers of Psalms say about disappointment.

I. Expressing Disappointment to God Honestly

A) Where is disappointment?

It is everywhere. But where is the word “disappoint” in these four verses? It’s not there.
Let us examine these verses to find “disappointment” in them.

a. Verse 1…Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Couldn’t we say that many times we go to the Lord with our disappointments in life? I believe that maybe the psalmist here is asking the Lord to hear his disappointment.

This psalm is talking about someone who was overwhelmed with affliction (hurt, disappointed) and pours out his heart to God.
Isn’t that what Christians are supposed to do?
Do we not know that God already knows our disappointments?

b. Verse 2) Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

What happens when trouble comes to us? Sometimes we panic. Sometimes we become afraid.
When trouble comes, are we disappointed that God allowed it?
Are we disappointed in others causing the trouble or disappointed that life itself has issued trouble to us?

c. Verse 3) For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.

Can we say that there are days in our life that are like this psalmist when we are disappointed time after time?
Are some disappointments so huge that they settle deep in our bones?

d) Verse 4) My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

Here is a good one… This psalmist said that his heart was affected so much by the affliction or disappointment that it has caused his faith in people or life to be dried up like sun baked grass.
In fact, he states here that it was so bad that he just did not feel like eating.
First of all, this psalmist did the right thing by going to God and expressing his concerns. I would have to say that our biggest problem in life dealing with disappointment is because we fail to go to the one person could truly comfort and cure all our ills… God.
I crack up when I am taking to someone that is trying to explain themselves and give validity to their excuse or reasoning by saying… “Honest to God!”
Are we really that stupid to lie to God? Come on now, who is going to lie to God? Only those who are lost. Because a saved person knows that God sees, knows and exposes everything. We cannot lie to God because He knows the truth, He is the truth, and He expects the truth from us.

II. Close and Trusted Friends Disappoint Us

A) It was not an enemy that disappointed

Go to Psalms 55:12…For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
David expresses to God his disappointment of a friend by saying… “It wasn’t my enemy (the worldly person who hates God and abuses God’s children) that disappointed me. I could have handled that by getting rid of him. It wasn’t a person who hated me and then belittled me to make himself look good, I could’ve avoided being around him.
Verse 13…But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. It was you, who shares the same things with me always, the person I considered to be my twin in many things, my mentor, and my “acquaintance (friend).”
14) We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Now David reminds his friend that they counseled one another and went to the temple together.
Isn’t that what friends do? Help one another go to church together, support each other? Isn’t that what God expects from His people.
Proverbs 18:24…A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

God’s Silence Does Not Mean Absence

B) God knows and cares about our feelings

Look at Psalms 56:8…Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
David is saying that God knows everywhere he has been and everything that he has done.
God has put David’s tears in His bottle, or in other words… God keeps track of his sorrow and disappointments.
Then David asks… “Don’t you keep a record of these things?”
The reason David is upset with God is because God had been giving David the “Silent treatment.”

C) Job had the same issues

Surely we remember Job’s troubles and disappointment that were brought upon Him.
Job 23:8…Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9) On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10) But he knoweth the way that I take:
Job says here “I try to do what you ask by going forward in my walk, and I look back at what I have done and see if you are still supporting me, and I look left to my left a place that You are always present and I don’t even get a response.”
Then Job says a s most Christians know… “You know where I am, why are you avoiding me?”
The heart of every Christian should be this… verse 10b… “when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
This is a positive attitude. We should have the attitude of job in that we tell ourselves… “No matter what happens to me, or what other people say… I am going to shine like gold.”

III. God Is in Control of The Events In Our Lives

A) Ask God in faith

James 1:2…My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
James says to be happy when you become disappointed. REALLY? How can we honestly do that?
James further tells us how Christians are able to do it.
3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Christians should not doubt God, but know for fact that God will test us from time to time so that we will learn to be patient. That patience will create within us endurance for the temptations, and endurance to survive disappointments that life brings so that we will realize our complete dependency upon God and not others.
5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6) But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
If you “lack wisdom” meaning “If you do not understand why God has allowed disappointment in your life… “Ask God to reveal it to you in a way that you will understand.
The key is in the later part of the verse 6… “Ask in faith.” In other words… “Ask God” with the attitude of your heart being faith that God will do it, faith knowing that you are righteous enough to receive a reward from God for your good works.

IV. Faith in Jesus Christ Will Never Disappoint

A) Jesus among His own

Look at Luke 4:14…And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15) And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
I want us to notice that it said in verse 16 that it was “his (Jesus) custom” or rather should we say it was his normal behavior, or his normal routine in life to go to church on the Sabbath (The day dedicated to God).
Look folks, do you want to cure disappointment, you want to be healed from your disappointments? Go to God’s house, meet with God there, be filled with the Spirit of God as Jesus was and know for a fact that He will take care of all your issues.
Now we get into the meat of the account (True happening, as opposed to a story which could be false) mentioned in verse 17) And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias (The writings of Isaiah inspired by God). And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
This passage of scripture that Jesus was reading was Isaiah 61:1, 2.
Luke 4, verse 18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20) And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him
“Why did Jesus not read verses the rest of verse 2 in Isaiah? Why did Jesus stop in the middle of verse 2?
If you go to Isaiah you will find that Isaiah 61:2 says… To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD,
The first part of the verse in Isaiah pertains to Jesus first advent (Jesus first coming to earth which is the time of the reading in the temple). The second half of the verse in Isaiah that reads… “…and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;” pertains to the second advent which prophesies judgment in the day of God’s vengeance. The second part of the verse does not pertain to the ones Jesus was preaching to in the Temple in Nazareth.
This was Jesus home town… Nazareth. The people knew Him. He was accepted there and well known.
I have to say that I personally cannot imagine what it must have been like to sit there in the Temple and listen to our Lord read from the book of Isaiah. WOW.
Now then to add to that thought…I cannot imagine being the minister of the church and follow up with my measly sermon after hearing the words being read by God’s Son who was filled with the Holy Spirit before the reading.

B) What Jesus read that applied to Him

Luke 4:18…The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, (as mentioned in verse 17) because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor (the poor being those spiritually poor in wisdom of the things concerning God’s Christ, or Messiah); he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Here is the key to curing disappointment. Jesus Christ whom God sent to us in the first advent, to …

Heal the broken hearted. Heal people who have been disappointed.
To insure them that they will be delivered from the captivity that disappointment can bring.
Recovery from being blinded by satan’s falsehood that creates disappointment.
To release us from the bondage satan has over us when we are disappointed because he has stolen our joy in Christ Jesus.
Lastly, God sent Jesus to preach to us or rather to bring to us the time which is now the acceptance of Him as our Lord and Savior.

Are you disappointed today? Surely you cannot be deceived and naive enough to think that you have never disappointed anyone.
The time is “This year” folks. Don’t let Satan steal your joy by allowing you to walk around thinking and focusing on your disappointments.

V. God Provides Relief From Disappointment

A) He sends deliverance, peace and healing

Look at Psalms 22:5… They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
What does the word “confounded” mean? To be confused.
So this verse is telling me that when we ask the Lord for relief from disappointment He will HEAL (deliver) me from the pain it causes if I TRUST that He will do it, and I will NOT BE CONFUSED (confounded) in the understanding of the disappointment.
I don’t care who you are, what you have been through in life, God will always take care of His children…always, if you have faith in Him.
Look at the words of Isaiah 49:23…And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: (To “know” God is to have a personal relationship with Him the brings belief.) …for they shall not be ashamed (His believers will never be disappointed) …that wait for me. (When they wait for His relief, or help.)
God Encourages Believers To Bear One Another’s Burdens

B) Bearing our own burdens

When you first read this passage of scripture it is somewhat confusing. Go ahead and read Galatians 6:1-6. Remember we are trying to cure disappointment…Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Let us say that for the sake of this study today on “disappointment.” that the “fault” mentioned in this verse will be a person who has disappointed you.
What does Paul tell the church here to do when another church member or Christian disappoints them?
He tells them that that those who are Spiritual (Stronger Christians who have learned to deal with disappointment well) “restore” the disappointed by helping them in a kind and loving way knowing that God will judge us in the same way we judge others.
How many of us have become angry with someone who abuses others over and over again and we lose our patience in working with them?
And how many times have we done something stupid over and over again to have God finally get fed up with our behavior to strike us down?
The whole thing about Christianity is to share one another’s burdens
Verse 2…Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. This means that when we gladly help one another with their disappointments in life, then we are doing what Christ has commanded of us.
Verse 3…For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. When you think you are above others when it come to disappointing people…think again. You have probably disappointed more people than you think.
I have always prided myself in my work ethic. I have always tried to do my very best at everything I have done whether it is building a house, remodeling, preparing a sermon, helping my wife, or playing with my son.
But I can always be a disappointment at some things to some people.
Verse 4…But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
We are to examine ourselves and compare our work with Christ’s words by rejoicing in what God has allowed us to do through His strength and wisdom, not our own.
Verse 5…For every man shall bear his own burden.
This is where I would get messed up. WHY? Because in verse 2 Paul said to “Bear ye one another’s burdens.” And here he is telling us to “bear his own burden.” Isn’t that contradictive? No, and pay attention.
We are to help each other with our burdens (faults, sins, or disappointments) mentioned in verse 2. BUT, in verse 5 is a judgment of the burdens we have placed on others by our disappointment to them. We cannot be judged for the disappointment others cause us. But we will be judged by whatever disappointment or sin we have done to others.
Verse 6…Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Paul says that those who have been taught (the faithful members) by God’s messenger (the pastor) need to “communicate (contribute to the support of)” the pastor in all the good things he does.
What “good things” is it that a pastor does (or should do?)

Loves God
Cares for your soul.
Preaches His truth.
Bears your burdens.

VI. Disappointment Is One Of Satan’s Greatest Joy

A) Satan is a lion

I Peter 5:7…Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. When you are disappointed…give it to God. Let Him take care of it. We need to understand that people will always disappoint us. But God is faithful to never disappoint.
Verse 8) Be sober (avoid confusion or anything that clouds your judgment), be vigilant (awake, or alert); WHY? …because your adversary(Your enemy)the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Satan is always sneaking around and trying to find ways to get you disappointed enough that it will cause you heartache, pain, suffering and a loss of your faith. Satan is not happy with Christians who resist him. He flees from them. Don’t let that liar have a victory over you.
Verse 9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
This verse informs us of the burdens placed upon God’s children by the world. They are always seeking some way to ruin our joy, ruin our reputation, ruin our fun, ruin our worship, or ruin our future.
Satan’s greatest joy is to see God’s people bring displeasure to God. Do you want to know why he enjoys that? Because he (Satan) is a displeasure to God.

VII. God Can Use Our Disappointment To Help Others

A) God brings comfort

I don’t know about you, but as for me… I get my greatest joy out of helping others.
When someone disappoints others, they are not bringing joy to those they have disappointed.
Sometimes we can lose sight of the goal God has plan for us when we have disappointed others.
II Corinthians 1:3…Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4) Who comforteth us in all our tribulation (disappointments), that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble (That we may comfort those who have been disappointed also), by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
You cannot be a comfort or blessing to others when you have not asked God to help you master or control your own displeasure of others for their disappointment to you.
We have got to earn to “get a grip” on our own issues with disappointment before we can be a blessing t others.