Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.

~Psalm 62:5 NIV

Disappointment, sadness or displeasure because someone or something has failed to fulfill our hopes or expectations. Disillusioned.

Our Perspective

We allow disillusionment to become a part of who we are by turning our eyes, hopes, and expectations to the wrong place. Our focus becomes inward instead of upward to God and outward to others.

Sarai became disillusioned while waiting for God to fulfill His promise of an heir. She took things into her own hands by declaring that she would have the promised child through her husband and her handmaiden, Hagar. The child was born, but things didn’t go as Sarai had planned. She did not consider her handmaiden’s needs; consequently, Hagar turned against her. Sarai didn’t find the satisfaction she sought.

When we decide not to wait for God’s plan to be revealed and forget His promises, we lose hope and experience disappointment. Nothing pleases us. While waiting for a promise to be fulfilled, we can become dissatisfied with where the Lord has placed us and lose sight of whom He wants us to minister His grace to. Let’s be determined to fix our eyes on Jesus and focus our minds on the Word of God. Then, our spirit will be fed, and we will be prepared for any disappointments.

Our Limitations

When we give into disillusionment, we become selfish, not recognizing that not everything is about us. God has a plan and a purpose for us being in an uncomfortable situation. Even as we are rehearsing to ourselves, “This isn’t what I had in mind,” perhaps it is what we need. Could we be positioned there to help someone else? Will we miss the intended lesson if we give in to our selfish desires?

We will never be satisfied if our hope is placed in something or someone other than the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Hope deferred makes the heart sick.

~Proverbs 13:12 NKJV

When we fix our thoughts on the Lord, there will be no place for disillusionment. Let’s look again at Sarai. The Lord has visited her and her husband, Abram. He gave each of them a new name, Sarah and Abraham. He also gave them a definite time to receive their promised heir. During their time of waiting, God reassured them that He would fulfill the promises He had made, and as they focused on the Lord, there was no room for disappointment.

God’s Perspective

Let’s focus on the promises in God’s Word and shift our thoughts from ourselves to others. 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.

~Matthew 22:37 NKJV

If you find yourself in a place far from where you should be, do you ask, “What now?” Change your focus. Run to your heavenly Father. There, you will find forgiveness and grace for a new beginning. Pray for Him to show you any person to whom you should minister His love and grace. As you reverence Him, you will become His instrument of grace to the needy souls around you.

I’m thankful our Father is waiting with open arms to receive us. And He quickly forgives all who ask and are sorry for straying from His appointed path. 

He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

~1 John 1:9 NIV

I know I am thankful. How about you? Are you ready for a new beginning? Turn and run into His arms of grace.

Think of a Bible verse that can help change your focus. Don’t be disillusioned. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for accepting me as I am. Help me to understand that You have so much more for me as I come to You. Help me to see and respond to the opportunities You present to me to minister Your grace to others. Thank You for continuing to conform me to the image of Your beloved Son. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2019: Disillusioned: Glenda Shouse: All Rights Reserved