Not To Disappoint

Disappointment, along with death and taxes, is one of life's guarantees. Toddlers experience it when told "no." Teens experience it when curfews are earlier than desired. And those are just two examples of an ever-present reality. We experience it in countless ways.

• You don't land the position.
• You lose the game.
• She says "no" when you ask on bended knee.
  
• The raise is not-to-be.
• The diagnosis is positive (not the good kind of positive).
• He turns out to be far less than a prince and charming.

How then, since disappointment is a guarantee, are we to deal with it? How do we navigate the pain? The first step we should take is to put things into perspective. We need to be more Little Engine and less Chicken Little. While eventually the world will end, it's probably not going to be because you lost your job. Keep climbing and striving and stop worrying about anything falling.

The second step we should take is to evaluate our focus. Do we panic like Saul who just knew that Samuel would be a no-show? Or do we trust that God who tells us to stop worrying will come through? We need to keep our focus on the Lord who loves us, not on the things of life that weigh heavily on us.

After taking those two steps, another helpful one is to take inventory of our lives in order to remind ourselves of all the things for which we are thankful (or at least should be thankful).

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For example . . .

• When you do not land the job, express gratitude for the one you already have.
  
• You can learn to enjoy the games, even the ones you lose.
  
• You can be thankful that she turned you down rather than enter into a marriage that would have started off on the wrong foot.
  
• You can be thankful for the time you do have rather than missing it due to mourning the time you won't.
  

Gratitude is such a mighty weapon against disappointment.

Christmas is just a few days away. Christmas is such an opportune time to wield that weapon. Allow the message of Christmas to overcome your disappointment. Joseph and Mary were instructed to name Him Jesus. That name means "God saves." If you trust and follow Jesus, you have "God saves" on your side through all that you face. Celebrate Jesus and overcome disappointment.

#ordinarylives