Breathing Through Disappointments

Last week God put me in a place to hear a message I desperately needed. Thanks Helen for hearing from God FOR ME. I know some of you were at the same event as me and chances are you got something different just for you from Helen’s message. How like God to be so personal.

Helen talked about 3 things we need to guard against as we journey with God and those he places in our lives – disappointment, distraction, and delay. The first one is what I want to explore with you.

We will all be disappointed from time to time but we can’t live in that disappointment because as Helen told us, it will turn into selfishness. It becomes all about ME. OH MY, is that ever true. Think about a recent disappointment – I’m sure you won’t have go to far back in time. As you think about it, rehearse it even and ponder it from every angle, there comes a point when it turns into “poor me”. That is a dangerous place to stay.

Last week God put me in a place to hear a message I desperately needed. Thanks Helen for hearing from God FOR ME. I know some of you were at the same event as me and chances are you got something different just for you from Helen’s message. How like God to be so personal.

Helen talked about 3 things we need to guard against as we journey with God and those he places in our lives – disappointment, distraction, and delay. The first one is what I want to explore with you.

We will all be disappointed from time to time but we can’t live in that disappointment because as Helen told us, it will turn into selfishness. It becomes all about ME. OH MY, is that ever true. Think about a recent disappointment – I’m sure you won’t have go to far back in time. As you think about it, rehearse it even and ponder it from every angle, there comes a point when it turns into “poor me”. That is a dangerous place to stay.

Think of the multiple disappointments Jesus experienced.
    His own people didn’t believe him.
    The people who were to represent God said he was from the devil.
    His disciples deserted him. And many more.

Yet it says in 1 Peter 2:21-24 (NLT)

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

Let’s go through it thought by thought:

For God called you to do good,
The “you” he is talking to here are slaves. The good they are to do is to be obedient to their masters.

even if it means suffering,
Being obedient did not guarantee that they wouldn’t be unfairly treated.

just as Christ suffered for you.
Jesus was obedient yet experienced the worst of pain for us, because it was what we needed him to do.

He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
Are we willing to be treated unfairly or to suffer for the sake of others? We have to be if we are going to be like Jesus.

He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.
So in his response to his suffering, he never let the disappointments turn into self-centeredness. Self-centeredness plays the sad, too-be-pitied victim which is a front for ugliness and pride.

He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
Self-centeredness often searches out allies but putting others down.

nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.
We don’t know the complete truth about any given situation so as to stand as judge. Only God does but how often do we think we can fully justify our judgments.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.
Hold it! I thought we were talking about the sin that others commit against us. Why does he suddenly turn our eyes toward ourselves? When we experience disappointments, what started out as a wrong done to us, quickly becomes a wrong we do to others if we don’t react like Jesus did (as mentioned above).

By his wounds you are healed.
It seems we are healed in two ways. First Jesus heals the hurts done to us because he already died and paid for that hurt. I don’t have to carry it. Secondly, Jesus heals us from the hurts we inflict because he already paid for them as well. What a glorious healing – hurts we receive, hurts we inflict – restored and set right.

BEV: Lord, I understand what you are saying but does it work? Is it really possible to let go of disappointments?

ANSWER: If it wasn’t you wouldn’t be able to walk today, your load would have collapsed you by now. This goes for your readers as well. Disappointments are about free choice. People are free to choose to hurt and people are free to choose how to respond to the hurt. I suggest responding as Jesus did. 

BEV: I’m thinking of a specific situation that happened last night. How should I respond?

ANSWER: Definitely refrain from complaining and thinking the worst of that person. I know them fully. They are mine.

BEV: What do you want me to do with the hurt?

ANSWER: You feel like you are being choked, that you can’t breathe.

BEV: Yes it’s as if I’m afraid to take my next breath. What should I do?

ANSWER: Open your mouth and let me breath into you. My breath is full of life. Inhale deeply. Inhale again taking in my peace, my love, my holiness, my faithfulness. Doesn’t that satisfy?

BEV: Oh Lord, I can’t express how good your breath feels, how good you are! You have given me a way to overcome hurt no matter where I am and how distressed I am. Do you have a special verse I can carry with me through this day?

ANSWER: You were thinking about it yesterday before the hurt happened. Psalm 121 (from the Message and with God speaking it directly to me)
You look up to the mountains; does your strength come from mountains? No, your strength comes from Me, I made heaven and earth and mountains. I won’t let you stumble, I your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Bev’s Guardian will never doze or sleep. I’m your Guardian, right at your side to protect you—shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke. I guard you from every evil, I guard your very life. I guard you when you leave and when you return, I guard you now, I guard you always. Please put your trust in me. Please let me heal you.

BEV: I stopped to take another breath. You are truly always enough.

Dear Friends, I plead with you. Please don’t let your disappointments carry you into sin. Take them to God and seek his solution. I know he is waiting to help.

Blessings from Bev