A Prayer After Disappointment

Disappointments are painful and, sadly, something that anyone can encounter in their life. The truth is that even Christians are not exempt from encountering disappointments in their lives. However, despite such reality, we have hope, knowing that even the disappointments that we experience are not outside of God’s sovereignty. In these times, God is not scratching His head, surprised by what has happened and not knowing what to do. He remains supreme and reigns over everything (Psalm 97:1 The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;     let the distant shores rejoice.). That is already one of the comforting truths we can bank on in times of disappointment—that the LORD still reigns.

Father in heaven, I take comfort in the truth that You remain sovereign even in times of disappointment. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Our Healer and Companion

Disappointments are not just unpleasant or negative experiences. They can be painful. You might be looking forward to studying at your dream university, and yet, for whatever reason, you cannot. Perhaps you have a certain kind of work that you are excited about, but you have yet to get the Job. You might have endeavored to find a spouse, yet it didn’t end up in marriage.

Disappointments are painful to experience. We are talking about desires, endeavors, and dreams that don’t happen even when we hope and look forward. However, when our hearts are broken because of disappointments, remember that you are not grieving alone. You have God as a companion Who will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). As you walk through the dark valley, you are not walking through it alone. God, Who is your good shepherd, is with you (Psalm 23:4). His mercies and goodness follow you even there (Psalm 23:6). God is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

 

In any case, we can pray by remembering and confessing that God is near as we experience the pain of disappointments. We can keep in mind that He is the One Who comforts and heals us.

Heavenly Father, thank You because I am not alone as I experience the pain of disappointment. You are with me always. You are the One Who comforts me and restores my heart and soul. You know and see all my pains. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

All for Our Good

We don’t know why such disappointment happens in our lives. Surely, God didn’t directly cause it. However, whatever happens in our lives, we can rest assured that everything works together for the good of those who love God (Romans 8:28). God’s thoughts are not like ours, nor are His ways similar to our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). His wisdom and knowledge are infinite, and he knows infinitely better than we do. Just as Job said, he utters what he does not understand (Job 42:3; Psalm 139:6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.). We can never outsmart God.

A good, though bizarre, example in the Bible is Balaam and his donkey (Numbers 22:21-34). Balaam, out of disobedience to God, insisted on traveling toward Moab. However, his donkey kept on deviating from its intended course of travel. The donkey turned aside and pressed Balaam’s foot to the wall until the donkey could not proceed. This only made Balaam more aggressive toward the donkey. However, when God opened his eyes to the impending danger ahead, he repented before God.

The same truth applies when it comes to our disappointments. It is a humbling and comforting truth. We may not see the danger ahead in our narrow and short-sighted vision. But in God’s eyes, there is an impending danger, and the disappointment that we experience is better than the danger that we could have faced up ahead. That is why, even in times of disappointment, we can still trust God, Who works all things for our good (Romans 8:28; Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.).

As we pray in times of disappointment, we can repent of those times when we pointed our fingers at God out of disappointment and frustration. We can also pray in such a manner that we yield and submit to God’s wisdom and remember that He works everything for our good because He loves us.

Heavenly Father, I repent of those times when I was proudly thinking that I know better than you and that things should have gone the way I hoped they would go. Your wisdom is infinite. You are all-knowing. I yield to Your will, trusting in You, knowing that You work all things for my good because You love me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

When we are disappointed, our encouragement is that Christ is someone to Whom we can run. He is gentle and lowly and understands our very pains, for He knows what it is to be human. The grace that we find in Christ is always greater than our deepest sorrows.