Confession: Disappointed
Submitted by weston on July 15, 2008 - 10:49am.
It seems like everywhere we turn there is some sort of let down. We can’t let to much of ourselves out because we might get hurt, we can’t trust anyone anymore, there is always someone out to get us, we are always on a “fix-it” mission.
How do we continue to function, in life, when we are always faced with the expectation of encountering a let down? Is nothing safe anymore? Can this state of being be solved by controlling our surroundings? Do we knowingly get involved with people that are sure to let us down or are these disappointments freak occurrences… like an earthquake?
I find that in my life, and in my role in the leadership of a church, I tend to spend a huge amount of my time mopping up situations of disappointment. I have expectations that I believe are reasonable, but tend to be unattainable for others. Is this my issue or is this their issue? It is hard to say. From a fair perspective, it all depends on the situation of course. Who has the responsibility? What is the greater goal? What are the responsibilities of the people involved? Sometimes I feel that people just don’t care as much as I do. They very well may, but sometimes it is hard to see. Maybe it’s ok if they don’t. Maybe I care to much…
The one thing that remains a constant though, is: God’s plan and direction. When we try to see things from God’s perspective many situations become clear. We discover that it is never about us. It is always about what God is using us for; after all that is reason we are here. He calls us to a higher purpose and he desires that we push ahead his vision for people.
We will always be disappointed but keeping God’s direction in sight will help us to realize that his plan is bigger than we are and his plan doesn’t depend on us. We are dependent on his plan. We exist to carry out his plan. If we remember this we will realize that God continually brings people our way who will encourage us and inspire us though times of disappointment. We are in this together.
Thanks for the thoughts
Thanks for the thoughts Weston. Its a good reminder to us all. Before finding The Quest I found myself spending more time planning for disappointment than enjoying the things that I have. It planned out like a self fulfilling prophecy. If I spend the time worried about what could go wrong next, it usually did. Since finding The Quest and learning how to turn my faith over to God and giving those thoughts to him, I spend less time looking over my shoulder and more time looking ahead.
In week one of this series, Dave talked extensively about putting people on a pedestal. When those people fail us the disappointment that we have is immeasurable. That lesson really hit home. In the past I put certain people in my life on that pedestal and watched them fail me over and over again. I so wanted so much more for them that when they did fail, it was a crushing blow. The anger that I felt during that disappointment was ridiculous. I would lash out at that person not believing that they were capable of that, when in fact, they are human.... everyone is capable of a mistake. I have since taken those people down from the stand and now my hope is to help guide them and catch them when they fall. I really have learned a life lesson from that, and hope that they will see the same thing that I have.
The definition of "Disappoint", according to Webster, is "failing to fulfill the expectations or wishes of...."
Sure, we all have expectations. But do we set our expectations too high? Shouldn't we let God decide what should be expected out of us? Do we really have the right to judge? Is the expectation different depending on the person and the circumstance?
As far as I am concerned, there are way too many questions to be answered on what is right and wrong and what is to be expected. It's far too difficult a calculation for me to figure out....
I'll let God figure it out. That's what he's good at!!