Question 1

What disappoints God?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 6:5-7The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.Wickedness and evil of any kind disappoint God.Malachi 1:8,10“When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? . . . I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings.”God is disappointed when we withhold our best from him.2 Timothy 2:4Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.Letting other things in life overshadow our commitment to God disappoints him.

Question 2

What should I do if I feel disappointed with God?

Accepted Answer

Exodus 5:22Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me?”Talk it through with God in prayer to try to understand his ways.John 11:21-22Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”Be honest with God about your thoughts and feelings. He knows them anyway, so why try to hide them?2 Corinthians 12:8-10Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.Wrestle with the question of why God won’t just take away your pain. Ask him what work he has decided to do through your weakness. It is through this struggle that you will discover your purpose in life.

Question 3

How should I deal with life’s disappointments?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 63:1O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you.In our disappointment, we may want to push God away. But we have to fight that desire and move toward God, not away from him. Running from the One who can help you will only lead to more disappointment.Luke 5:4-5When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”Listen to the Lord and trust his Word, even when it seems unreasonable. God’s Word often gives advice that seems opposite to what we have learned from others. But when you follow its teaching, you will find an answer to your disappointment.Romans 8:28We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.Believe that God is working in your life to use both the good and the bad for a greater purpose. Nothing that happens to you is a waste. Disappointment turns into hope as you watch God redeem your current adversity.

Question 4

Is there a way to avoid or minimize disappointment?

Accepted Answer

Haggai 1:6, 9“You have planted much but harvest little. . . . Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.”Put God first. Give him the best minutes of your day, the first part of your money, the highest priority in your life. By doing this you will learn what is truly important and discover the rewards and satisfaction of a relationship with the God who created you and loves you.Psalm 22:5They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced.Psalm 34:2I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart.1 Peter 2:6As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”Sometimes the most obvious truths are the hardest to follow; they are so simple to grasp yet so hard to master. One of the most obvious truths of life is that God’s way is best. If we live by the principles of Scripture given by God himself, we will face less disappointment because we will have fewer consequences resulting from sinful actions. It’s hard to discipline ourselves to read God’s Word regularly, let alone to follow what it says. But it’s much harder to deal with the disappointment that comes from sin’s consequences.Galatians 6:9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.Good deeds can become disappointing when others don’t seem to notice or appreciate them. Good work can be disappointing when we don’t see it making a difference. But anything good that you do has immense value, both for you and for others. Don’t let disappointment keep you from doing good, if for no other reason than to enjoy the blessings God will reward you with when you meet him face to face.Galatians 6:4Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.When we compare ourselves to others, we will probably be disappointed by our shortcomings. However, when we focus on our own work and on doing it well, then we get the satisfaction of having done our jobs to the best of our ability.1 Peter 1:3-6All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.Just as focusing on a fixed point in the distance helps us travel in a straighter line, focusing on the eternal horizon will lead us to live with Jesus forever where there is no pain or sorrow or suffering. As we move straight toward our eternal goal, we will be able to put life’s disappointments in perspective.Ecclesiastes 10:8-9When you dig a well, you might fall in. When you demolish an old wall, you could be bitten by a snake. When you work in a quarry, stones might fall and crush you. When you chop wood, there is danger with each stroke of your ax.To live the great adventure of life, we must accept the risks that come with the adventure. As followers of Jesus, we can view our setbacks as stepping stones to the blessings in store for us ahead.