“⁵Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, kjv). 

Disappointment comes to us all at some point. I have learned the meaning of two laws about life: 1) Things do not always go as planned; and 2) Some things in life are strictly out of our control. So what does one do when his or her hopes go unfulfilled? I personally rely on the Word of God for advice and encouragement. Take a quick look with me today, and allow me to show you a few of the scriptures I call upon when I am in need of a lift.

“²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, kjv).

People who rely solely on their own rationale in life run the high risk of excluding the wisdom of God from any decision process they may be engaged in, and when things go wrong they become frustrated. By this statement, I am not saying that those who rely on God’s wisdom don’t experience frustrations. They do, but theirs are less frequent and much lighter.

“²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, kjv).

The above scripture is one of my favorites because it focuses on an assurance that, even when bad things happen to godly people, God is able to bring “all things” to a point of victory for His people.

“⁶Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, kjv).

When things happen that you just don’t understand, stand under the protective and blessed assurance of the Word of God. Know that God’s peace surpasses anything you or I can ever understand, and that we have a right to take our concerns to God and to take His peace upon ourselves.

Do not allow disappointment to cause you to throw in the towel. Don’t give up. Stand strong. There are still many things that need to happen, and many lives that will be changed through your influence. Rehearse the Word of God in your mind on a daily basis.

I remember years ago seeing a friend of mine walking around with a wad of flash cards with scriptures on them, and he would quiz himself all day with them. If it will work for you, make some flash cards with scriptures printed on them and quiz yourself on them from time to time. The Word is an anchor, and it is the armor that will help you stand against the evil tricks of the devil (see Ephesians 6:11).

When things do not go as planned, decide in your own mind and heart that you will remember and rehearse God’s Word while going through. When you become disappointed in something or someone, if you have placed your trust in Almighty God, you can still rejoice! Be encouraged!

Author, speaker, musician DEREK E. EURALES, Jr., loves to share his faith, motivation, and music. His book, Principles of Christian Living,  has become a “must read” for believers of all ages. To order your copy, click here.