Dealing with disappointment

We all face disappointment at some stage in our lives. It usually comes when we least expect it and we are ill prepared for it. Take the following scenarios as examples of disappointment:

• losing your job
• the end of a relationship
• a broken dream
• failing an exam
• getting bad news from the doctor
• a broken promise
• an unanswered prayer
• __________________
• __________________

I am not sure what disappointment you are dealing with at the moment, but remember that God is with us in these times of trial. Even though Jesus knew the 'frailties' of humanity, before he even called the disciples to follow him, I am sure he was greatly disappointed when they let him down.

Revelation 5:4 - "Then I wept with disappointment..."

Proverbs 13:12 - "Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around."

ACTION: So, what do you do when you are faced with disappointment. We can't continue to wallow in our own self-pity. Here is a wonderful suggestion from the Bible.

Samuel prayed his disappointment and anger..... YES, you did read correctly - He prayed it! He expressed it - He told God how he felt - He grieved - He vented - He allowed himself the freedom to speak it out. It was in doing this that his healing started.

"Samuel was angry when he heard this. He prayed his anger and disappointment all through the night." - 1 Samuel 15:11-12

Don't dwell on your disappointments - pray them out loud!

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Some adVICE from me

So, let me tell you this funny story...

On my day off last week, I was doing some woodwork in the garage with Josh. He was helping me potter around and we were having great fun. He asked me to help make something for him and so I needed to drill a hole into a block of wood. I didn't have a vice to hold the wood in place, so I did what any man would do - I improvised. I put the block of wood between my feet and started to drill the hole into the wood. Of course, you can gather what happened next.....

....yes, the drill slipped and I managed to put a hole into the side of my foot. Needless to say there was a lot of blood and I had to rush myself off to the doctor, feeling quite foolish and sore! A few stitches and injections later I returned home and have now vowed to buy a vice!

Here is my reflection on this incident. Sometimes we need someone to hold us tightly and to protect us. A vice does a good job of keeping wood firm and secure, so that you can avoid injuring yourself, while you work on the wood. There are moments in our lives, when we need to rest securely in the loving arms of the Lord, so that he can hold us tightly. His reassuring presence keeps us from all harm and reminds us that he is with us at all times.

Listen to this adVICE....

1 Samuel 25:29 - "Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God."

Zechariah 10:12 - "I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will live securely,” declares the Lord."

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Listening versus hearing

I had an album playing on my phone this morning when suddenly I noticed a song that seemed new. It struck me as being odd, because I had "heard" this album a few times before, but had never noticed this particular song. Then it struck me - we are often hearing things, but we seldom listen to what is being said.

You may be wondering if there is actually a difference between 'hearing' and 'listening' - I think there is a massive difference. And auditory neuroscientist, Seth S. Horowitz, would agree with me. He argues that the difference between the two lies in one thing - attention. Hearing is a 'passive' thing and our brain/ears can hear many things during the day, but 'listening' is an active exercise that requires focus. This explains why many of us men can "hear" the instruction to stop shouting at the Referee on the TV, but we choose not to listen :)

So, in terms of our spiritual lives, the challenge lies in not just hearing God's word or the promptings of the Spirit, but to actually pay attention to what is being said - that is true listening.

Luke 8:18 -  “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”

1 Samuel 3:10 - And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

 Luke 10:39 -  Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.

Take some time out today to LISTEN to the voice of God.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Speak Lord

The season of Lent helps us to tune into the voice of the Spirit., but we need to be intentional about listening for the voice of God. It is much easier to listen to the words of others or even of the ‘biblical prophets’, but it is the voice of Jesus that we need the most.

Perhaps a simple, but profound prayer during this season is Samuel’s prayer:

“Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:10

Thomas a Kempis wrote:

“The Prophets may speak words, but they cannot give the Spirit.

Their language is beautiful, but if you are silent it will not set my heart on fire.

They give words, but you give the words meaning.

They present mysteries, but you unlock what it hidden.”

Listen for the still small voice of the Spirit today.

Living in Grace

D3LM3