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…

That is disillusionment.

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

Let’s look at someone in the Bible who experienced disillusionment. In Genesis 16, Sarai became disillusioned while waiting on God to fulfill His promise of an heir. She took things in her own hands by declaring that she would have the promised child through her husband and her handmaiden, Hagar. The child was conceived and born but things didn’t go as Sarai had planned. She did not consider her handmaiden’s needs, and consequentially Hagar turned against her. Sarai didn’t find the satisfaction she sought.

When we decide to not wait for God’s plan to be revealed and we forget His promises, we lose hope and experience disappointment. Nothing pleases us. While we are waiting on a promise to be fulfilled, we can become dissatisfied with where the Lord has placed us and lose sight of who 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 that we encounter.

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?

If our hope is placed in something or someone other than the Lord Jesus Christ, we will never be satisfied. God’s Word says:

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. In Genesis 18, 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 when they would 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.

Let’s focus on the promises in God’s Word and shift our thoughts from ourselves to others. Let us remember what Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 NKJV,

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 you are supposed to minister His love and grace to. As you reverence Him, you will become His instrument of grace to the needy souls around you He has entrusted you to reach for His kingdom.

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. God’s word assures us,

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.

What is a Bible verse that can help change your focus when you experience disillusionment?

Heavenly Father thank You that You accept 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 into the image of Your beloved Son.

In Jesus’ name. Amen 

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2019: Disillusioned: Glenda Shouse: All Rights Reserved