Dealing With Disappointment

 Introduction - Purpose of this message ●Unrealized expectations ▪Dreams unfulfilled ▪Prayers “unanswered” ●Life’s disappointments ▪Our own ▪Our family ●Resulting discouragement ▪Dis-courage – the removal of courage ▪Where disappointment steals away initiative  Introduction - Purpose of this message ●Unrealized expectations ▪Dreams unfulfilled ▪Prayers “unanswered” ●Life’s disappointments ▪Our own ▪Our family ●Resulting discouragement ▪Dis-courage – the removal of courage ▪Where disappointment steals away initiative

 The reality gap ●Difference between the ideal and the real  The reality gap ●Difference between the ideal and the real Ideal Real Deal ●Because we live in a fallen world ●Because we deal with humanity in its frailty ●Life’s not fair ●Because we live in a fallen world ●Because we deal with humanity in its frailty ●Life’s not fair ●In the gap you “deal”

I. Expectations  Misdirected Expectations ●Elijah ▪Running from Jezebel after victory on Mt. Carmel ▪I’m the only one left ▪I’ve had enough, take my life  Misdirected Expectations ●Elijah ▪Running from Jezebel after victory on Mt. Carmel ▪I’m the only one left ▪I’ve had enough, take my life

●Jonah ▪I knew you were slow to anger and filled with unfailing love ▪I’d rather be dead than if what I predicted will not happen ●Jesus’ disciples ▪is this when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? ▪Judas forcing a response ●Jonah ▪I knew you were slow to anger and filled with unfailing love ▪I’d rather be dead than if what I predicted will not happen ●Jesus’ disciples ▪is this when you will restore the kingdom to Israel? ▪Judas forcing a response

 Comparative Expectations ●2 Corinthians 10:12 Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! ●Failure or success by comparison??? ●The source of “Life’s not fair” perspective  Comparative Expectations ●2 Corinthians 10:12 Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! ●Failure or success by comparison??? ●The source of “Life’s not fair” perspective

II. Dealing – a Matter of Perspective  Development of a God’s-eye view ●Eternal rather than temporal ●Spiritual rather than natural  Development of a God’s-eye view ●Eternal rather than temporal ●Spiritual rather than natural

Beginning End

 1 Corinthians 2: But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.

 Dealing with Unrealized Expectations - Hebrews 11:13,35 ●People died without receiving what God had promised ●but they saw it from a distance ●They welcomed it ●Placed hope in a better life after the resurrection ●Too good for this world (of whom the world was not worthy)  Dealing with Unrealized Expectations - Hebrews 11:13,35 ●People died without receiving what God had promised ●but they saw it from a distance ●They welcomed it ●Placed hope in a better life after the resurrection ●Too good for this world (of whom the world was not worthy)

 Dealing with Misdirected Expectations ●Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. ●God’s eye view - Isaiah 46: Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. 10 Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.  Dealing with Misdirected Expectations ●Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. ●God’s eye view - Isaiah 46: Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. 10 Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.

 Opposing extreme ●Doris Day theology - Que Sera, Sera, ●Realism instead of idealism – settle instead of press for the best  Opposing extreme ●Doris Day theology - Que Sera, Sera, ●Realism instead of idealism – settle instead of press for the best

 Comparative expectations - Dealing with Comparisons ●Psalms 73 – when I saw the wicked prosper  Comparative expectations - Dealing with Comparisons ●Psalms 73 – when I saw the wicked prosper

 It ain’t over till it’s over ●The “over” may be to “turn it over” ▪As in turning our circumstances over to the Lord – trust ▪As in turning our family members over to the Lord – he loves them more than you anyway  It ain’t over till it’s over ●The “over” may be to “turn it over” ▪As in turning our circumstances over to the Lord – trust ▪As in turning our family members over to the Lord – he loves them more than you anyway

Opportunity Is Nowhere No-where Now-here Opportunity Is Nowhere No-where Now-here

 Success by comparison or Biblical Success Marked by ●Obedience ●Faithfulness ●Hand to the plow ●Yoked with Jesus  Success by comparison or Biblical Success Marked by ●Obedience ●Faithfulness ●Hand to the plow ●Yoked with Jesus

 1 Corinthians 3: It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.

 Dealing with “Life’s not fair” ●Thank God ●If life was fair we would all get what we deserved – eternity in hell  Dealing with “Life’s not fair” ●Thank God ●If life was fair we would all get what we deserved – eternity in hell

 Psalm 42:5,11 – why am I discouraged, why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my savior and my God

Reflection Time  What are my disappointments?  Why am I disappointed? ●Unrealized expectations ●Misguided expectations ●Comparative expectations  What’s your view, God?  How am I going to deal?  What are my disappointments?  Why am I disappointed? ●Unrealized expectations ●Misguided expectations ●Comparative expectations  What’s your view, God?  How am I going to deal?

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