DISAPPOINTMENT – THE GAME CHANGER

A Different Path

Fiery Trial

“I looked around at the damage. Blackened floors and wood beams, metal containers darkened from the licking flames.  What was once thriving and full of hope and activity – is now ashes that can be blown away with a strong wind. 

The smell of smoke damage instead of spring, ruin everywhere I look; what happened? How did the fire start?  Can anything be recovered? All seems unusable. On the floor there was a page with a few typed words.  What was this document before the flames ate at it?”

I wrote the words above after I had a huge disappointment.  I wanted to express how I felt inside, the frustration and sadness.  I was acting normal on the outside but inside I felt the fiery effects of deep disappointment.  

Disappointment could be caused by a failed career or job loss, a failed relationship, a broken dream, betrayal of a friend or less traumatic things.  These let downs could have negative affects on a person’s life and could leave you sour, if you let it.

Blessing in Disguise

But I found a secret in my experiences with disappointment.  It is a game changer! When I look beyond my plans and my expectations I find that disappointment can be a blessing! I took my disappointment to God and He surprised with unexpected results.

Disappointment can help direct your path – I let it guide me to my destiny. It’s why I’m writing these words. It's why I’m working on a book. There are many examples to prove my point that disappointment can be the best thing that ever happened to you. Your life can be heading in one direction but there is a better direction, a destiny direction, if you let disappointment be your guide.  Here are some examples:

• Like the guy who expected a promotion but instead he got an assignment to train a new person for that position. She would be his new boss.  That disappointment led him to decide it was time to go full time with his part time business. In the first month his business made almost as much as he would have made in a year at the job he left! 

• The young woman who loved her boyfriend but he was not stable and his future was not going where she wanted to go – but love is blind. She couldn’t see it.   He betrayed and disappointed her. It was painful but she kept herself busy with creative projects and going to school to improve her life. She ended up marrying a wonderful godly man who treasures her. 

• Or the family who lost a bid for a house they desperately wanted. That disappointment closed the door to one opportunity but they found a much better home in the area they wanted for the same price. 

Take This Road

We can't see what is ahead of us so remember that the Lord is with you, even in your disappointment. Next time you face a disappointment, let it be a game changer; consider it to be a teacher and guide.

I like the passage in Isaiah 30:20b – v21 “yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher.

21 And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.” AMP 

Disappointment is a guidepost telling you which road to take to your blessings.

Do you have examples of disappointments that turned out to be blessings? Please feel free to share them in the blog comments below.

3 TIPS FOR FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

Someone who is facing some life challenges asked me to pray for them and I sent them the following email. After reading it, I felt like I should take my own advice and then decided to share it with you. I wrote:

“I will definitely be praying for you. Here are some tips for fighting the good fight of faith.

1.  Watch your thoughts, know that the enemy will be inserting negative thinking as well as negative memories. And he uses your own voice speak and also to accuse you.

2. When you notice the negative accusation in your thinking - FIGHT BACK WITH THE WORD (say it, and think it) LIKE JESUS DID! when He said, it is written. For example:

• There is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

• (I am not a grasshopper in my own eyes) like Joshua and Caleb - I am well able to possess the land that God promised me.

•  I'm looking unto Jesus (and not to myself) who is the author and the finisher of my faith.

•  He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all I can ask or think according to the power that's working in me.

•  Is anything too hard for God? No, nothing is impossible to them that believe. Say --- I believe God!   Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded you, be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed: for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

3.  One last tip -- Isaiah 55:8,9 says His thoughts and ways are higher than ours, so when you can't trace Him and understand exactly what and how He is doing things.... Simply trust Him and His love for you.

Here's a good example in II Chron. 20:15 -25 when a mighty enemy came against His people, God told them to "be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude (that could be your perceived failures, the enemy's accusations, financial lack, marital issues etc.) For the battle is not your but God's”.  Then He had them send singers and praisers on the front line to lead the army (vs. 21 - 22). And of course they won the battle!

Wow, that is NOT the way I would have handled it! But as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than my ways (and yours). Point being - trust Him and keep going forward even when you don't understand how the victory will be won.”

Do you have any successful tip for fighting the negativity of life challenges? Please share them in the comments below. I would really like to hear them.

ONE ESSENTIAL TOOL TO BETTER HEALTH

Guest Post by Lauren Howard

The one essential tool that will help you better your wellness over all is self-control. It’s essential because it helps to achieve health and wellness goals and to avoid impulses that could cause harm mainly to yourself but to others as well. When practicing self-control in your life it could increase your energy, increase longevity, get you off of your medication, lower your high blood pressure, help you lose weight, etc.

But self-control is not something you can just decide to start having. Self-control can be compared to a muscle; when exercised, it is fatigued after heavy use over a short term, but over a longer term with regular exercise you muscles become strengthened. You may already be aware of how a lack of self-control can lead to a result you don’t want. But as long as you live it’s never too late to do better, to be better. So why not start now?

WAYS TO HELP BUILD SELF-CONTROL    

1.  Know What is True and What Happens If You Ignore It (Understanding)

Jesus says, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Truth sets us free! Free from eternal death, weakening mental hang-ups, and ailments of the body. It can be challenging sometimes to discern what is accurate information pertaining to health, but there is truth out there, it just requires perseverance.

2.    Desire What is Right (Motivation)

Self-control grows when we pay attention to “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable” (Philippians 4:8). “Self-control depends in large part on how much we put God in control of our lives. The more we desire God’s will, the easier it is to choose it.”

3. Practice Makes…Better (Perseverance)

No matter how hard you try, there will be times when you want to make a good decision and you end up not carrying out that decision. You will stumble and fall, but remember to get back up and refocus. Be determined to make a good decision next time and continue to pray for a renewal of self-control within you.

FOOD AND DIET EXAMPLE    

Many know that drinking sugary drinks (i.e. soda, sweet tea, sport drinks) is not healthy. It can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and gout. If you have any of those diseases “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” you can choose to manage it by limiting or avoiding those drinks. You may need to find healthy drinks to replace that desire for Coke. Or try initially cutting the amount by half and slowly go down from there.

You can also try to tackle areas in physical activity and general lifestyle (i.e. smoking, sleep, and stress management). 

Self-control is an important key to success in achieving wellness: mentally, physically, spiritually, financially, etc. Choose to work on behaviors that pertain to you. And remember it takes more than just willpower for lasting self-control. It takes a power greater than yourself: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT). Stay encouraged!