You really wanted that job, but it went to someone else. Once again, your spouse lets you down or you see your grown children making poor choices – and it breaks your heart. Disappointment hurts. We all want something better, something good for ourselves or those we love, and when whatever it is doesn’t happen, there’s a sense of loss, even though we never actually had it.

I have heard some Christians say that we shouldn’t be sad in disappointment because it meant that it just wasn’t God’s timing or His will. While that may be true, it doesn’t mean our pain isn’t real or is somehow wrong. I think all of us, as humans created in God’s image, long for everything to be perfect, our souls and even our bodies crave to live in the world we were originally created for. But we don’t yet, so how do we deal with the disappointments of our lives now?

I think the first thing to do when disappointment comes is just cry out to God – maybe even literally. Remembering that He cares more about you than anyone else, knows everything that happens, and knows already how you feel is a good first step for handling whatever comes.

Then when we have remembered that our help comes from the Lord (Psalm 121:1), we can go to His Word to hear what He has to say to us. The entire Bible is a testament to God’s love, mercy, and care for us, but here are five verses that I think will help pull us through and out of the pain of our disappointment:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!

(Lamentations 3:22)

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

(Psalm 34:18)

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

(Isaiah 55:9)

My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:19)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:6-7)

In summary: God loves us, He knows our disappointment and pain, He’s God (and we’re not), He will give us everything we need, and when we ask Him, with thanksgiving, He will give us peace. This is how God answers us when we cry out to Him with our disappointment. Trusting Him is the surest way to hope and out of disappointment.

One day, all our expectations–and more–will be met. There will be no more sin, betrayal, or pain, no more disappointment. Believing and trusting the One who will make all this happen is the surest way to deal with our disappointment and find hope in Him.

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God bless you. Stay hopeful! ❤️

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