December 9

Dealing with Disappointment

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

ROMANS 8:28

There are many causes of disappointment, ranging from minor letdowns to major setbacks, and Satan wants to use the disappointments in our life to steal our joy. He wants to keep us discouraged so that we won’t receive all that Jesus died to give us.

No matter what the causes of disappointment—physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual—as soon as we feel disappointment coming on, we can choose to resist it immediately and take whatever action the Lord leads us to take.

As soon as we start feeling disappointed (especially if it is a recurring issue), it is important for us to say to ourselves, I’m going to focus on the goodness of God in my life today. Whatever I may have lost is nothing compared to all I have gained in Christ. When you have this attitude, it will keep those disappointments from turning to discouragement and even depression.

Jesus gave us the “garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3 KJV). This is something we can choose to put on rather than sinking into despair when things don’t go our way. Resisting the enemy and making a conscious, determined choice to joyfully praise God even in the tough times will allow you to overcome disappointments and be a powerful Christian each and every day.

When you’re not sure what to do, stand on the Word of God and declare His promises over your life.