All through life's journey, we get disappointed by people. They tell us that they will do something and they don't, or they behave in ways that bring harm to you or themselves or people you love. They do dumb things. Just today I shared with my church the need to have patience and forebearance. ( an old word that means to put up, and endure).

I am also keenly aware that disappointment is not a 1 way street. It is not just people who disappoint us, but we also at times disappoint other people. In fact, if the truth be known, we do it more times than any of us would like to admit. We can all be big fat donkeys at times. Stubborn and self willed.

But what do you do when people disappoint you?

Jesus said in Luke's gospel chapter 17 that is impossible that no offenses should come. So the issue is not how to prevent yourself from being disappointed but instead what do you do when those disappointments come along your ways. Here are some questions to ask yourself when you have been disappointed.

1. Do you nurse it by having your focus on your pain? There is a big temptation to focus on the offense and your feelings of betrayal. Remember our Lord who was betrayed by one of his disciples. He did not focus on the betrayal but instead focused on the joy set before him. Heb 12:2
2. Do you rehearse it by playing it over and over again in your mind? Many of us, myself included replay the offense over and over again in our mind. It is like somehow we can get back at the person by rehearsing it mentally. We keep them in the prison of our heart and have to get to the point that we forgive them the emotional debt we feel by being betrayed and disappointed. Remember the parable of the unforgiving servant. Matt 18:21
3. Do you choose to disperse it, remembering how much you have been forgiven of, set free of, released from the debt of your own disappointing behavior in the eyes of a loving and merciful God? The key to overcoming being disappointed is to remind yourself that you have also disappointed people and in reality your heavenly Father at times as well.

Paul in the book of Ephesians chapter 4 talks of walking a in a manner that is "worthy" of our calling. It means to walk out our life with equal value to the knowledge of what God has done for us. In otherwords, since we have been given so much by God, forgiven of so much, been blessed by so much, to walk our lives in such a way that reflects how much value God has given us.

So the next time someone disappoints you, remember, don't nurse it, don't rehearse it, remember all that God has given you and disperse it! Jesus truly does care for you and if you will let Him, He will change your life!

Now that is something to think about!

Blessings!

Pastor Duke

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This article was first published on my website taberstruths.com