The Flipside of Disappointment
Experiencing disappointment is not easy; and some of us know this more than others. It’s hard to not get the promotion, to be rejected for the part of the lion in the Wizard of Oz because you are girl; or fail at marriage. The good news is that there is a flipside of disappointment.
If you reflect for a moment over your disappointments what lessons from them did you learn? What are you more aware of than you were before? What hot stove moments did you have that you now know you won’t ever again?
For me personally most of my life was disappointment and loss. Being abandoned led to rejection, rejection led to low-self-esteem and low-self-esteem simply led to self-hatred which only led to self-mutilation; and that only led further in the wrong direction- a direction further from God and of course more disappointment. And this was all by age 15 mind you. It seemed that no matter what I did I was just living at the cul-de-sac of Disappointment Drive. But because of God’s grace and the fact that His Word always is true He carried me through all of those disappointing times. He made the way and He will for you too. And now all those disappointments are used because nothing is not of use by God. Now that’s recycling!
The past and present is full of disappointments it’s simply a matter of perspective. What you see in those disappointments will make or break your tomorrow. Sure it’s disappointing when your favorite team loses to the team that clearly wasn’t better, when your children don’t get accepted to NYU; and when the hard work at the gym doesn’t produce the weight loss you expected. It’s just part of the life but you see in the Bible it tells us “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Rev 3:21)
It’s clear that while disappointments do come; there is something beyond the disappointment that is the reward. Sure it’s hard to see anything but pain in the midst of the pain yet rest assured beyond it life isn’t over. I tell you again in the midst of disappointment life isn’t over. If this were the case I would have been gone decades ago; and you too.
The lessons we learn through and from our disappointments only come when we stop and look at them. I can surely attest to you that if I had no disappointments I would have overcome nothing; and who has testimony if overcoming nothing?
If we claim to be followers of Christ then know that trials will come your way; there is no other way. It’s part of life as a Christian and in the big scheme of things the trials are simply training ground for how you handle the big tests that will come your way. Jesus had a mission to complete and through it He beat death. What disappointments will you overcome to beat the enemy in your life? You will never know if you never stop looking at disappointments in the wrong way.
Julie Blair is President of Julie Blair Ministries that helps people worldwide grow in Christ. To learn more about going deeper in Christ or to have Julie speak to your church or business visit www.julieblair.com
Image belongs to its original owner
Repentance is a funny thing people don’t like to hear or talk about; like taking trips to see the in-laws. The problem is that the problem doesn’t go away if you don’t address it. You can’t sweep something under the rug and think that there won’t eventually be a pile of stuff under the rug. So the question is what happens when you repent?
Your mind changes. When you recognize that God is the One who determines what sin is and isn’t and you make the choice to align your mind with God’s Word; then your life will change in the right direction. Everything begins in the mind and we can see as far back as Adam and Eve. They allowed their stinking thinking to cause the turmoil that we all are born into. Acts 3:19 gives us the clear directives and getting to the refreshing and it starts with ‘Repent’ and ‘seek forgiveness’ so that ‘times of refreshing’ may come. With no repentance there is no forgiveness or refreshing. Our country reflects right now absolutely no repentance of fear of God. A mind changed toward repentance can fix that.
Your heart changes. When you repent your heart will change and in ways that you can’t imagine. Your heart wasn’t created to carry the burden and sin and all the things not of God; it just wasn’t. Because your body cannot go where your mind hasn’t been; the heart change will come after the mind makes the choice. A softened heart is one that God can work with. Psalms 32 is a great example of when King David repented to the Lord for his affair with Bathsheba. If you read the scripture carefully you won’t find where King David repented to Bathsheba; but rather to the Lord and his heart was changed. When things aren’t right with the heart; nothing else is right.
Your life changes. And of course if you choose to not repent your life will change; just probably not in the way you would like. In the story of Hannah we see where she wanted a baby more than anything and it was once she let go of her bitterness that her life changed; God gave her a baby! Now; it would make sense with bitterness that she wasn’t able to get pregnant since bitterness causes brittle bones; yet her story is a great testimony of healing, restoration, blessings, miracles and generations born.
If you want to grow in Christ repent for the things you have done; and you probably know what those deep dark hidden things are. Don’t allow the shame, guilt, condemnation or remorse keep you backpeddling. Just go to Jesus and let it all out; repent, seek forgiveness and let those times of refreshing come. Do it while you still can as I am quite certain you won’t regret it.
Julie Blair is President of Julie Blair Ministries that helps people worldwide grow in Christ. To learn more about going deeper in Christ or to have Julie speak to your church or business visit www.julieblair.com
Image belongs to its original owner
How often are you chasing after something and then when you actually get it; it’s not what you thought? Yeah I’ve done that. The degree would get me a better job, that spouse will just make you happy and complete. The new title will just be everything. Hmm mmm. And so the idol chase for the idols becomes a way of life without even realizing it. It’s when you realize that if the race you are running is in vain and you are putting it before Jesus Christ that your life will change; which makes sense since His Word tells us to have no other gods but Him but I digress. Fantasy football anyone?
When you examine your life have you allowed what you think something will bring to your life be what you chase? That idol that you never realized was? Will the new home bring you more? Of course- more space to clean and take care of but will it seriously bring you what you have created it to in your mind? Will you being married bring you what you are expecting? Or will you find that you created the idea so much in your mind when it comes to reality you are disappointed? Probably so. But you see if you remove the idolizing of it when it all comes it will be wonderful; it will be what it needs to be because it will have been placed in its proper place. And that is behind Jesus Christ.
Julie Blair is President of Julie Blair Ministries that helps people mature in Christ. To learn more about going deeper in Christ or to have Julie speak to your church or business visit www.julieblair.com
Image belongs to its original owner
When you think of freedom what comes to mind? Better paying job, kids off to college? New home? Better running vehicle? It seems our lives have become ‘when I get….’ there freedom will be. The sad truth is that it isn’t true. Freedom doesn’t come that way at all. Identifying the steps to free is the first step to freedom for freedom. It all comes through Christ.
Freedom can’t come in the way that most people seek and search. Cars, homes and titles won’t bring it. It can only come through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When freedom comes; you will never be the same!
______________________________________________________
Today’s Scripture
Colossians 1:13-14 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
______________________________________________________
Forgiveness Tip #25
Forgiveness opens your heart to love.
______________________________________________________
Julie Blair is President of Julie Blair Ministries that helps people mature in Christ. To learn more about going deeper in Christ or to have Julie speak to your church or business visit www.julieblair.com
All images belong to their owners
For more about growing in Christ visit www.julieblair.com