Disappointments

10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Genesis 18:10-15

Life is full of disappointments. Sorry - if you are reading this first thing in the morning and harsh realities weren't what you were hoping for. But it is true right. Most of us have experienced some big disappointments surrounded by a whole bunch of little ones. And some of us feel these disappointments deeply.

It doesn’ help of course that our culture fills our eyes and minds with lofty expectations. It's easy to get disappointed when you have been promised you can have everything you want and to dream big.

Or when it comes to God. Often Christians have been filled with expectations that don’t align with God’s promises. That’s the problem with telling people that God will give you wealth and popularity and health on this side of heaven. Sometimes our disappointments with God are because of unbiblical expectations.

But there are times when we God has genuinely promised things that you don’t feel/see. Just like Sarai. She has been waiting 70 years most likely for God to give her a child. Can you imagine waiting that long for something? You can understand her bitter laughter.

But there is a powerful reminder here for us. God is faithful. He always fulfils His promises. But He does so according to His timetable. And that can be really hard. I love to be in control. I’m impatient. I’m human. It’s hard to wait. But this is what faith is. Faith is believing when it’s hard and I think continuing to cry out to God not only for His promises to be fulfilled as soon as possible - but to help us while we wait.

Are you struggling with disappointment? Do you feel like God hasn’t fulfilled His promises to you? Well - firstly, wrestle with your expectations. Are you hoping for something God has definitely promised? But secondly, cry out to God to help you trust Him while you wait.

For Today:

• Are you struggling with disappointment or bitterness toward God? Why?
• What are you finding it hard to wait for from God?
• Ask God to help you while you wait for the fullness of His promises.

Pray:
Praise the Father for His promised blessings that are greater than we can imagine. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who endured far more than we can imagine to receive God’s blessings. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to strengthen you and others while we wait for the fullness of what we have in Christ.