In a recent interview with Elijah Force, I explored the topic of Unshakable Faith. We can’t discuss unshakable faith without acknowledging the disappointments we face along the way in pursuit of that depth of faith. From the feedback I received after the interview, it became clear that many faced devastating letdowns last year. I received numerous emails detailing experiences of disappointment, including the loss of loved ones, financial struggles, and the devastating impacts of the hurricanes this year. It seems many have endured significant hardships.

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The scriptures provide a vivid depiction of God’s love and His care for His children, which is one of the first things I discovered. God is good all the time. However, the truth is that if we walk with God for any length of time, we will encounter situations that we simply do not understand.

• Unanswered prayer
• Suffering abuse or pain
• Illness
• Loss of Loved One
• Financial difficulty
• Devastating storms
• Violence in the land
• Political unrest

Often, when we face difficult situations, we start to question God. We may feel disappointed when we don’t receive answers that satisfy us. If left unaddressed, this disappointment can be dangerous. I once came across a statement that resonated with me: anything unresolved for more than twenty-four hours can take root. Consider that for a moment: if we don’t address our disappointments within a day, they begin to take hold in our hearts and minds.

Disappointment is defined as failing to meet the hope or expectation. To hinder from possession of what was intended, desired, hoped, or expected.

One of the most significant conflicts and hindrances to the flow of blessings and miracles in our lives is unresolved hurt from past disappointment.

The issue is that no one discusses disappointment. In the church, we often hesitate to acknowledge our feelings of disappointment. We put on our “church face” and continue to speak about faith. Many times, if Christians seek to confide in a friend about their disappointment, they risk being criticized by others in the faith community. This is not fair. We all experience disappointment, whether we choose to admit it or not.

If we do not address our disappointment, it can lead to unbelief. Unbelief can open the door to demonic influences in our lives. We cannot allow the spirit of unbelief to take hold, as it often enters through disappointment. Furthermore, it becomes nearly impossible to hear God clearly when we are burdened by unresolved disappointment.

I once experienced what felt like an endless season of disappointments that lasted for years. Year after year, I faced challenge after challenge, attack after attack. The unyielding disappointment seemed unending. However, through it all, God remained faithful. He never abandoned me; He walked alongside me every step of the way.

Over the years, God taught me a lot about disappointment. He showed me how it can impact both your heart and your soul. I learned the importance of not allowing disappointment to linger within you. It’s crucial not to view His Word and promises through the lens of disappointment. Why? Because doing so can alter your perception of His faithfulness and of who He truly is. I also learned that disappointment could lead to unbelief, which can prevent you from receiving your promises if it is not addressed.

Proverbs 13:12 says, Hope deferred makes the heart sick. The Message Bible says this; Unrelenting disappointment makes the heart sick.

This scripture does not address those who take one hit and choose to give up. Instead, it speaks to those who have endured hit after hit, attack after attack, while striving to stand in faith to the best of their ability. When yet another blow comes and they can no longer stand, disappointment can set in. If we allow that disappointment to linger, it will become the lens through which we view everything.

During difficult times, we must hold onto the Word of God tightly. It is essential to spend time daily in His presence and in prayer. We need to find our life scripture—one that brings hope and life even in darkness. For me, that scripture is from Psalm 27: “I would have lost heart if I had not believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.” I clung to this beautiful verse to prevent disappointment from taking hold of me. I am immensely thankful that God brought me through those challenging times, and even more grateful for all the lessons He taught me during that season.

I don’t know where you find yourself today. Perhaps you, too, are in a place of unrelenting disappointment. If so, know this: God will bring you through. He will not leave you or forsake you. Cling to Him, and do not let disappointment change the way you perceive God. Don’t allow it to distort the truth that He is faithful. Losing sight of God’s faithfulness is the enemy’s plan for you. However, God’s plan is to bring you out into complete and utter victory. And He will.

Walking through disappointment is an experience we all face; there’s no way to avoid it. Learning to trust God in the midst of those feelings will teach you a valuable lesson. Cling to God and His Word. As you do, disappointment will lose its grip on you. You will begin to see clearly—not through the lens of disappointment, but through the lens of faith in God and His love for you.

Denying our disappointments won’t help. We need to acknowledge their existence and choose not to let them linger. We should seek God until our thoughts realign with His promises and faithfulness. It’s important to keep believing that we will witness the goodness of God in the land we are living in.

The promises of God reveal His heart and His good plan for us. We must believe in this plan and hold firmly to that truth. Our beliefs influence our hearts and attitudes. If we focus on what we feel God hasn’t done, it can lead to offense toward Him and foster unbelief. Furthermore, during times of disappointment, we become vulnerable to both spiritual and physical ailments. Remember, the Bible states that such disappointment can make our hearts sick, and when our hearts are sick, it affects us both spiritually and physically.

God is seeking those who will continue to trust Him, no matter the circumstances. He desires those who maintain their faith even when they don’t fully understand their situation. We need to believe that He is a good God and that His goodness will be evident in our lives.

Also, it is important to address disappointment as soon as it arises; do not allow it to take root. Refuse to let it linger. The enemy wants to see you crushed and disappointed, hoping you will lose all hope. However, God wants you to trust in His faithfulness, His goodness, and His love for you.

God has a way of transforming your greatest loss and disappointment—the very things the enemy intended to use to weaken your faith—into your greatest strengths. How do I know this? Because the scripture about disappointment in Proverbs 13:12 doesn’t stop there; it continues with, “But when the desire comes, it is the tree of life.”

We all have times when disappointment attempts to take hold. We have all walked through things we don’t understand and in which no explanation would satisfy us. Many of us have experienced unrelenting disappointments, ones that seemed like they would never end. It’s time to be honest and allow God to heal you and remove every root of disappointment in your life. It’s time to be restored to life. That’s God’s plan for you, will you lay hold of it today? (to listen to the interview on disappointment and how to deal with it, go to: https://rumble.com/c/ElijahForce)

Let’s pray

Father, we thank You for Your goodness and for the wonderful plans You have for Your people. I bring my moments of disappointment before You and ask for healing for my heart today. Please give me a new heart, one filled with hope and a strong expectation of all that is good. I trust in You, God, and I believe I will witness Your goodness in the land I live in today. I look forward to an outpouring of Your goodness in my life in the coming year as You crown my year with Your blessings.

Did this article speak to you? Share your prayers and reflections in the comments below.

Kim Potter is the author of Deeper Still, a 90-day devotional on a deeper relationship with God. She is also the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, in Charisma Magazine, and on Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the hearts of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, to impart hope. To order her new book or receive her daily encouraging writings, visit her website at www.anewthingministries.com, or Books Archives – A New Thing Ministries. Photo credit: Ben White on Unsplash.