A Disciple Deals with Disappointment and Discouragement

We all have expectations. And whether they are reasonable or illogical, when our hopes fail us, we feel disappointed. 

There’s nothing wrong with this response, in and of itself—in life, some disappointment is inevitable. Discouragement, however, is a choice, and a dangerous one at that. In this state of mind, we allow our circumstances to consume us. Then we stop striving for the goal and miss achieving our potential. 

Another consequence is a divided mind. As we’re distracted from tasks at hand, we easily make poor decisions and then feel tempted to blame others for our predicament. Anger can lead to retaliation and depression. All the while, we are drifting spiritually. Obviously, it’s important to resolve disappointment quickly. 

Consider what the Lord experienced in the garden of Gethsemane. He not only faced a gruesome death the following day; He also knew He would be separated from His Father for the first time in all eternity. His words inMatthew 26:38 reveal profound pain: “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death.” Needing encouragement and support, He asked the disciples to pray and stay awake with Him. And yet, they fell asleep. Jesus must have felt let down and alone, but He didn’t allow hopelessness to distract Him from His purpose of procuring our salvation. 

When life deals you a painful blow, remember Jesus’ response and realize you, too, can choose to cling to the Father for hope. Have you allowed disappointment to rob you of focus and joy? Pray for God to keep you from discouragement.

Problems and Provisions

Read | Matthew 14:22-34

No one gets through life without trials. Realistically, you are either in a storm, just getting out of a one, or about to enter a turbulent time. That is the bad news. Thankfully, we serve a good God who provides beautifully—especially during the dark periods of life.

Today’s passage tells of a stormy night on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus provides for us today just as He did for His disciples in that unsettling situation. Today, we will focus on ways that He does this.

First, the Father gives Christians His presence and the promise that He will never leave (Heb. 13:5-6). This is, perhaps, the greatest gift because from this awareness, He offers a sense of comfort, courage, and confidence.

Second, the Lord blesses His children with a pathway through trouble. He is in total control of our storm and will use the trial for His purpose. We may not understand, but we can trust His hand to guide us and accomplish good. Sometimes the reason and benefit of a difficulty will becomes obvious, while in other cases, it may never be clear.

Third, the Father offers believers the potential to grow. Hardships are exercises in trust and times to learn more fully who God is and how great His power and love are.

No one enjoys trials. But remember to express gratitude for God’s hand in your life and the way He will use the adversity. Hardships are chances to trust your Creator and to know Him better. Of course, they are painful, but don’t waste the opportunity to become all the Lord has planned for you.

PUT IT IN HIS HANDS

Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people.

— Matthew 14:19

A little boy was asked what his favorite Bible story was. He said, "I like the one where everyone loafs and fishes." That is not exactly what happened with the Feeding of the Five Thousand, but it is a great story.

Jesus was at the peak of His ministry during this time, and His popularity was spreading. Multitudes of people were anxiously following Him. A large crowd had gathered to hear Him, and they were hungry.

We don't know a lot about the little boy with his loaves and fishes whom Andrew brought to Jesus. We don't even know his name. But we do know he was poor, because he had barley bread, the cheapest of all bread. He also had two small fish. He didn't have a lot to bring to the table. But that little boy gave what he had to Jesus.

In the same way, God wants us to bring what we have to the table. This boy gave his lunch, as poor as it was, to Jesus. This lunch was as insignificant as it could be. And this boy was as insignificant as he could be. But that which was insufficient from the hands of the insignificant became sufficient and significant when placed in the hands of Jesus.

It is not what you bring. It is whom you are bringing it to. God can do a lot with a little. And sometimes those who have the least are willing to give more, because they recognize that if anything good results, it has to come from God.

So bring what you have. God can take it, bless it, and use it to touch many. What makes a gift great in God's service? It is not the magnitude of the gift. It is into whose hands the gift is given.