Text:Judges 15:1-10, Job.14:7-9
When we see a man behaving somewhat strangely, we want to know what could be responsible for their careless, reckless, or nonchalant attitude. So why do people sometimes misbehave?
There was a man in the Bible called Samson. Let us take a critical look into his history and learn from him. Anytime \”Samson\” is mentioned, two things always come to mind – power and woman. A common Sunday school lesson was that Samson fell at the lapse of Delilah. However, Samson did not start that way.
Samson was a good man. He loved his fiancée and was ready to pay any sacrifice to keep his promise of love. However, his life changed the day he was disappointed by his proposed in-law. He became reckless and sought revenge. He stopped paying attention to the rules of God and man as a result of the emotional trauma.
Life is full of ups and downs. Unfortunately, several life disappointments could influence the way we think and act. Let us examine some of them.
1. Marital Disappointment- some people find it difficult to handle marital Disappointment. For example, when a promising spouse suddenly breaks the relationship, a couple called it a quit on the altar of divorce. The reactions to such situations may turn a God-fearing person into a careless soul. Some people may develop an aversion to marriage and hatred for other people around them. However, these actions and reactions would never help.
2. Business failure or Disappointment- It is always a big one when we are disappointed by a business partner. We tend to give up on trust and decide never to believe anyone. Our paranoia is a usual human reaction, but that would not solve the problem.
3. Church disappointment-we could experience Disappointment even in the church. Our reactions could include hatred for fellow believers, backsliding, and termination of membership. Yet, we would not get the answer we are looking for by such actions.
Jesus advised us in John 15:4-6 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. \”Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. The only correct reaction to Disappointment is to remain in Jesus. We must stay close to Him, for only in Him can we become fruitful and successful.
In any way we might have been disappointed, Jesus is always there for us. He had experienced all sorts of disappointments, and that made Him the perfect one to give us succour in times of trouble. So let us keep the following strategies in mind to guide our reaction to disappointments.
- Prepare for Disappointment- what we don\’t expect will come to us as a surprise. If we expect it, we will not be taken aback. We should hope for the best in all our relationships but prepare for Disappointment just as Jesus was fully prepared. He told the disciple that one of them would betray Him, and all of them would deny Him. He was fully prepared for it, which made it easy for Him to forgive all of them.
- Pray about your Disappointment- What helped Jesus at the most critical time of His earthly ministry was incessant prayers. In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus illustrated the need to ceaselessly pray even when it seems we are not getting the result. Prayer is a communion with God, our maker. If a man disappoints us, who else can we turn to other than God? Prayers can prevent Disappointment, and they can help us manage Disappointment and can cure Disappointment. So the best action amid Disappointment is to pray to God.
- Develop Positive Attitude about your Disappointment- the Bible revealed how God used the Disappointment of Samson as a channel for the victory of Israelites over the Philistines. Samson was able to express the power and grace of God upon him because of the Disappointment. We must see beyond the Disappointment. We must know that something good could surely come from a challenging situation. A positive attitude is an antidote for Disappointment and preventive medicine for hatred, bitterness, and depression that comes with disappointments.
Therefore, as we continue to meditate on this devotional, let us hold firm on our positive confession and keep praying in the Holy Spirit. Our expectations shall not be cut off in Jesus name.
