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Answer
Disappointment with God is not necessarily wrong or sinful; instead, it is a part of the human condition. The term disappointment refers to “a feeling of dissatisfaction when one’s hopes, desires, and expectations fail to materialize.” When God somehow falls short of satisfying our hopes or does not meet our expectations, disappointment naturally ensues. If God does not meet our expectations, we may become disillusioned and dissatisfied with His performance. This can result in wavering faith in God, particularly in His sovereignty and goodness.
When God does not act as we expect Him to, it is not because He lacks the ability to do so. Rather, He chooses not to intervene. While this may appear arbitrary or capricious, the opposite is true. God chooses to act or refrain from acting according to His perfect and holy will to fulfill His righteous purposes. Nothing occurs outside of God’s plan. He controls every molecule in the universe, and His will encompasses every action and decision made by every individual worldwide at all times. He declares in Isaiah 46:11, “From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.” Even the birds play a role in His predetermined plan. Moreover, there are instances when He reveals His plans to us «declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: », (Isaiah 46:10), and times when He does not. At times, we comprehend His actions, while at other times, we do not «For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.»
The Bible reminds us in Isaiah 55:9 that God’s ways are higher than our ways. One thing we can be certain of is that if we are His, everything He does will ultimately benefit us, even when we do not fully comprehend it. As stated in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
The key to avoiding disappointment with God is aligning our will with His and submitting to His plans in all circumstances. By doing so, we not only prevent disappointment but also refrain from grumbling and complaining about the events in our lives. Despite witnessing miraculous displays of God’s power such as the parting of the Red Sea, the provision of manna and quail in the wilderness, and the presence of the Lord in the form of a pillar of fire, the Israelites in the desert still grumbled and questioned God on multiple occasions (Exodus 15–16; Numbers 14:2-37). Despite God’s unwavering faithfulness, they were disappointed because His actions did not align with their expectations. Instead of submitting and trusting Him, they remained in a state of turmoil and confusion.
When we align our will with God’s and echo Jesus’ words, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42), we experience the contentment described by Paul in 1 Timothy 6:6-10 and Philippians 4:11-12. Paul had learned to be content regardless of the circumstances, trusting in God’s plan and submitting to His will. He understood that a holy, righteous, perfect, loving, and merciful God would ultimately work all things together for our good.
God is always faithful to His promises. When we view God in this manner, we will not be let down. Instead, we willingly surrender to our heavenly Father, understanding that His plan is flawless and that all He accomplishes in our lives will benefit us and glorify Him.
