It was the weekend, and I was excited to visit my favorite bagel place. While I got a later start than I would have liked, I assured myself I had plenty of time to do everything I had planned. I go to the counter to order my favorite bagel, only for the cashier to say that someone had just bought the last of my favorite bagel. I was disappointed, but they have dozens of other options. I opted for a different kind and told myself I’d be there earlier next time.

Have you ever visited your favorite place to realize they’re not open? Have you ever had plans on your calendar that you were excited about, only to find those plans were canceled at the last minute? Maybe your favorite coffee place was out of hazelnut? These are minor disappointments that we encounter in our days from time to time. Of course, my favorite bagel being sold out on a Saturday morning was only a minor inconvenience. It made me think about disappointments, though.

What about the bigger disappointments that we encounter? In the disappointments that take our breath sometimes, we can find hope in Jesus. While we can’t always avoid disappointment, we can rely on the One who is our hope and never disappoints.

Reflecting on my bigger disappointments, I discovered that maybe I could change my approach. I have realized that I set expectations on how things should go, and when the outcome is different, I become disappointed. Am I placing my expectations on those outcomes a little too much? Maybe I wouldn’t feel the disappointment so much if I let go of the expectations. One thing is sure: we have a hope that supersedes all expectations.

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured our His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us” (Romans 5:5 NIV).

No matter what comes our way, hope does not disappoint. God has freely given us love that abounds. We always have hope, no matter what.

Even on our most challenging days, we’re reminded that “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). God redeems everything. While some things may be forever lost here on earth, God always remains.

Sometimes, in the middle of suffering, we may feel the turbulence, and it can take some time to find the calm, but with our God of hope, we can rest knowing that He will guide us. When the disappointments hit us deeper, we can trust, knowing that God redeems.

“They cried to you, and were saved; in You they trusted and were not disappointed” (Psalm 22:5 NIV).

Even in disappointment, we are not defeated.

And when we encounter the smaller disappointments, we can still have a good day. One thing that I am learning is not to place so much expectation for everything to go right. While it has been my natural tendency to put too much expectation on outcomes, now, I am leaning more toward accepting whatever the outcome. No matter what, we always have the hope of Christ within us.

Reflection

When you experience disappointment, what does the truth of God reveal to you?