OVERCOMERS

OVERCOMING Disappointment

“Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from deceitful and wicked men. You are God my stronghold. Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.” Psalm 43:1-3 NIV

“Then will I go to the alter of God, to God, my joy and my delight “Then will I go to the alter of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him. My Savior and my God.” Psalm 43:4-5 NIV

Everyone Experiences Disappointment WW The Bible is full of stories about Disappointment Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Joseph, Job, David, Jeremiah, Elijah . . . Even Jesus experienced disappointment – Mark 9:19; 14:32-42

Everyone Experiences Disappointment WW There are many causes of Disappointment We’re often Disappointed by people We’re Disappointed when our plans or desires don’t work out the way we had hoped We’re Disappointed when our lives take unexpected turns

Everyone Experiences Disappointment WW How we deal with Disappointment is critical! God is not as concerned about our circumstances as much as He is about our response to them! – Romans 8:28

Disappointment Can Make Or Break Us WW It can draw us closer to God We can turn to God for help and comfort – Philippians 4:6-7 We can learn and grow from the experience – Philippians 4:10-13 We can look to God for direction as we go forward – Psalm 23; Philippians 3:13-14

Disappointment Can Make Or Break Us WW Or it can lead us to despair! Satan uses Disappointment to lead us away from God! – Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 73:1-14 If we focus on our Disappointment, we will become more discouraged, disillusioned, depressed, and ultimately defeated!

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into his grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-4 NIV

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:3-5 NIV

OVERCOMING Disappointment WW Put your hope in God! Not in people, not in things, not in circumstances or anything in this world! – Psalm 146:1-6; 1 Timothy 6:17; 1 John 2:15-17 Our hope is in the God of Heaven! He will not disappoint us! – Colossians 3:1-4; Revelation 7:13-17

OVERCOMING Disappointment WW Put your trust in God’s Will Often our “hopes and expectations” are NOT God’s Will – Abraham and Sarah; Moses We must learn to trust that God knows what He’s doing! – Jeremiah 29:11; Proverbs 3:5-6

OVERCOMING Disappointment WW Take your lemons and make some lemonade! Make the most of the situation – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; James 1:2-4 Some of God’s greatest blessings often follow great disappointment in our lives!