Many of us would have heard this phrase being said one time or another. Said to console ourselves or others when someone gets let down.
What triggered me to write this post? Well, a few weeks ago my wife felt let down by some of her co-workers. As we were in the car on the way home from work, she was talking about how upset she felt and at the same time she understood that the incident was very trivial and thus should not have affected her to that degree. In and attempt to make herself feel better, she then went on to say "People will disappoint you but God will not".
I have heard this many times before but never really thought much about it, other than the fact that it made sense all those times I've heard it. Perhaps it was due to the overarching belief that God is perfect while man is fallible.
But this time it was different. When I heard my wife say it, it did not sit well with me. Perhaps it was the stirring of the Holy Spirit.
What is the real meaning behind this saying? What does it mean to a follower of Christ?
Even as a disciple of Christ, is it even possible for God to disappoint us?
Here's my take: Man has constantly disappointed God, grieved the Holy Spirit and will continue to do so for a long long time. But for another person to disappoint me, 2 criteria must fulfilled.
1st Criteria: We must have an expectation of the other person to meet. Be it his/her behavior, moral standard, value system and/or capability etc...
2nd Criteria: The other person must fail to meet that expectation.
While God certainly has the prerogative to place expectations on his creations, is right for us to have expectations of others or even God? Who or what gives us the right to place expectations on others? We then get upset and disappointed when these expectations are not met. Is it our pride and vanity taking over, when we decide on a "standard that another must fulfill"?
I have come to the realization that when another person disappoints me, it is as much my own failing. Its something to ponder about. Its true that people will always disappoint, its because of our own failing that we will place expectations on others. If we continue to do that, then we will be disappointed.
A wise mentor once shared with me that one of "best ways for a happy marriage is to have no expectations."
On to the 2nd part of the statement. I have heard of believers being disappointed with God. Why? Again it has to do with our expectations on how we expect God to love, bless and deliver us. Having God confined to your understanding of Love, blessing and deliverance will definitely lead to disappointment.
Conclusion -
Love unconditionally. The next time someone disappoints me, I have to ask myself if I have loved that person unconditionally. If I am offended or upset, I will need to look inside myself and identify the problem. I like to say "If the intent was not to cause offence, the offended is the one with the problem". If we place our love of God above that of our expectations of others, will there still be disappointment in our lives?
Love God unconditionally, and acknowledge that he is the creator and we are his creations. Trust in his love and that he will not forsake us. Don't put God in box and expect him to stay within those boundaries.
It certainly adds perspective to daily living doesn't it? I hope this helps you, the reader, as much as it help me when I was writing it.
Ephesians 5:1
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
