Dealing with Disappointment

For all of us there will be times of disappointment.  Things will never be perfect while we are here on earth.  How we deal with the disappointments of life has a profound impact on our lives, and the lives of our children.  I have some ways of dealing with disappointment and I will share them with you.  Perhaps someone reading is dealing with disappointment and one of these ideas might help.

Read and memorize scripture.  Being in the word is almost the only way to survive disappointment.  When I am going through disappointing circumstances I like to put on my fuzzy socks, curl up in my favorite chair with my Bible and a cup of coffee.  I love to read and choose verses to memorize.  I try to hide God's word in my heart so I won't sin against Him. 

One of my favorite ways to deal with disappointment is to plan something really special for the kids.  When I am dealing with disappointment I get myself busy making the kids their favorite meal, or planning a picnic, or a game night, or I invite friends over.  I keep my mind busy and focused working on and planning something that the kids will love and refuse to allow my thoughts to stay on the disappointment.

I pray and ask God for help in dealing with disappointment.  Asking God for help is step one in anything we attempt to do as Moms.  I need a daily filling of His spirit.  It is only by His grace that I can function in the right way as a wife and mother.  Staying close to Him is my only chance of survival in this world.  Disappointment has been known to knock me over but because of the Lord's working in my life I don't stay down.

I go for a walk or I craft.  Sound crazy?  That is what I do!  I'm not going to sit around and let Satan get the best of me!  I'm not going to dwell on the things that are disappointing.  The last time I was really down after reading an email I immediately tied on my shoes and went for a walk.  I hit delete, and hit the door!  It was wonderful!  I've been known to come up with my best craft projects when I'm dealing with some sort of disappointment.  I get busy on a project and the thoughts of disappointment are pushed out of my head.

I throw myself into what I need to do.  I focus on cleaning the house, getting the laundry done, making sure we are having a delicious dinner and try to be the best teacher I can be.  I will not spend too much time thinking about what others SHOULD or COULD do.  I just make myself think about what I should be doing and then I do it with all I have and focus on being the best I can be.

I treat others the way I want to be treated.  Hard?  Yes, sometimes, but God always blesses.  I do what I can to make our home a warm hospitable place for those who visit.  I make sure every friend and family member knows they are always welcome in our home.  I ask God to remind me not to return evil for evil and to help me treat others the way I would like to be treated.  Our home and our hearts are always open to our family members, even the ones who shut their hearts and homes toward us. 

I make a thankfulness list.  Do you want to drive away disappointment quickly?  Grab a pen and paper and start making a list of everything you are thankful for!  Forget those disappointing circumstances, look at the blessings in your life!  Count them!!  Literally.  Number 1 - 20 on a piece of paper and just start writing.  In less than a minute you will be thanking God for all of the amazing blessings He has bestowed on you!


Here's what I DON'T do when dealing with disappointment...

I don't eat. (needs no explanation, right?)
I don't shop.  (well, maybe a time or two but not as a practice.)
I don't dwell on it.  This too shall pass!
I don't withhold forgiveness.  I will forgive much because my Heavenly Father has forgiven me MUCH!

 
James 1:2-5 says,  "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him". 

Disappointments are trials in our lives.  Dealing with disappointment is a reality for all of us at some time or another.  Friends can leave us, family can let us down, jobs can be lost, and our circumstances will not always turn out the way we had hoped.  Many of us have lost people we care about, been lied to, lied about, been hurt, let down, mistreated and DISAPPOINTED.
BUT GOD loves us, gave His Son for us and will never leave us!  Disappointment pales in the light of those facts.  Put your disappointment aside and look to Jesus.  Follow Him and find your contentment in Him.  There is JOY in serving the Lord and caring for your family and this is what we must do to properly deal with the disappointments of life.