Romans 8:28(NKJV)
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
I watched a young Christian woman this week go through a rough time because she felt like she had worked hard at achieving a certain goal, only to be met with disappointment and dismay. She believed the kind of effort she exerted should have yielded a better result than what she received. Most of us can relate to the let-down we feel after putting our hearts and souls into something, and it doesn’t work out anywhere near what we expect. When this happens, many of us tend to see our disappointments as set-backs, but often in the long-run they are meant for our good.
There are two very important pieces of wisdom that we need to consider when faced with disappointment. The first is that disappointment and sadness are a part of life. In John 16, Jesus Christ was teaching his disciples and preparing them for a time when he would not be with them in the way that they had grown accustomed. In John 16:33 (NLT), Jesus Christ told them, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
He wanted them to know what was coming—what they could expect to occur, so that when those things finally did happen, they would be comforted in the knowledge that he had kept nothing from them, and prepared them with the truth. It was not going to be all roses and sunshine. Some pretty rough stuff was coming their way, and as we can all imagine, it was somewhat of a shock to the system for them. We should also know that with the reality of the suffering they would face, he also reassured them of victory.
Jesus Christ wants us to know that disappointment is sometimes a phase to get to the place we are destined to be. This is the other piece of wisdom we need in our arsenals. For many of us, the Will of God concerning a situation is not always clear. It takes time and patience for us to work it out within our souls and to align ourselves with what God is doing in us and in our external environments. Because we don’t see all the details, and don’t know all the ways in which God is working, we might assume that He’s not moving on our behalves. This is never the case. In Philippians 4:6-7, He tells us not to worry about anything, but pray about everything. As we pray to Him in confidence we will experience His peace, and God’s peace “exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)
God’s Word assures us of His promises. He has taken great pains to bless us and bring us to the place where we stand today, and He didn’t bring us this far to leave us. Patience and endurance are required to see the victory. Yes, there will be times when we stumble, but Psalm 56:13 tells us that He’s able and willing to keep our feet from falling. He’ll never leave us or forsake us, and because of His love, we can flip the script on discouragement, and be encouraged with the faith of Jesus Christ. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Flip the Script on Discouragement”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2018. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.