Moving Beyond Disillusionment and Disappointment

When Lisa and I were in Australia in August (2024), a story was related to us by a believer from the Pacific southeast. Some years back, a Christian group was wanting to hold a celebration on a particular beach but were denied a permit based on their faith. Instead, they were told that they would have to gather up in the mountains at a different, less-desirable venue.

They were disappointed, but proceeded up the mountain. Little did they know that thousands who were on that beach and in that area at the time of their event would lose their lives when a deadly tsunami rushed ashore. Being in the mountains, the lives of those believers were spared. Their short-term disappointment turned into a much greater blessing.

In a story closer to home, shortly before our recent trip to Europe, Lisa and I spoke for Pastor Mitch and Susan Horton in Raleigh, North Carolina (September 27-29, 2024). In planning and preparation, the church had pursued securing reservations at a hotel in Asheville to make this event a retreat away from the church. In spite of repeated efforts, they could never get the desired hotel to respond with the needed information.

As a result, the church decided to hold the meetings at their church in Raleigh. Had the retreat been held there, we would have been there when Hurricane Helene devastated that area. Our hearts certainly go out all of the residents who were so horribly affected, but we are thankful that we nor any of the church members from Raleigh were caught in the terrible destruction.

Biblically Speaking

Have you ever endeavored to help someone who was disillusioned? Someone who was frustrated or disappointed by how things were going or by how plans were not working out? We’ve probably all seen it. Maybe we’ve experienced it ourselves. When I think of someone who dealt with disillusionment, I think of John the Baptist. Imprisoned, he began hearing about all the wonderful miracles that Jesus was performing. It seems that others were receiving miracles, but not him. Consider how poignant the following passage is:

Matthew 11:2-6 (NKV)

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples

3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 

5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 

6 And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

We can only speculate as to what exactly was going on in John’s mind, but we might assume that he may have been thinking “Wait a minute! Why are others getting help from Jesus, but I’m not? There he was, sitting in prison. He had introduced Christ to the world — the one who would set the captives free, but he himself was now a captive. He really had to trust God unconditionally, in spite of his circumstances.

A great number of disciples were disillusioned when Jesus did not fulfill their expectations. The sixth chapter of John reveals many people responding adversely to certain teachings from Jesus. His words challenged, frustrated, and disappointed them. They ended up complaining and arguing amongst themselves. The result is that “many of his disciples turned away and deserted him” (John 6:66 NLT). Thank God, though, that the Twelve had a different attitude. When Jesus asked if they were also going to leave, Peter responded, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69 NLT). Remember what Jesus said relative to John the Baptist? “Blessed is he who is not offended because of me” (Matthew 11:6).

Two disciples encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus encountered Jesus after his resurrection, but they were kept from recognizing him. With profound sadness, they described their crushed hopes concerning Jesus and said, “We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago” (Luke 24:21 NLT). When they finally recognized Jesus in front of them, their sadness was turned to gladness. In spite of how they felt things had worked out, they came to realize that God had been working out a plan far greater than they could have imagined. Disappointment turned to celebration.

In Paul’s Footsteps

On our recent trip, the group enjoyed lunch overlooking the harbor of modern Kavala — this was Neapolis in Scripture — where Paul, Silas, Luke, and Timothy first set foot on the European continent (Acts 16:11). From there, they walked nine miles and began their work in Philippi. I’m certainly not suggesting that Paul’s frustration would have been at the same level as John the Baptist’s distress as he sat in prison, but he may have wondered why he got “no” several times before he got a “yes” regarding God’s direction. Consider:

Acts 16:6-8 (NLT)

6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia [where Ephesus was located] at that time.

7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.

8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

It was in Troas that Paul received the vision directing him across the Aegean Sea, to northern Greece (Acts 16:9-10). Paul was obedient when God had said “no” as he attempted to pursue different options back in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He could have been bull-headed and pushed his way forward. Instead, Paul waited, and God directed him to Philippi, and then to Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth.

Paul would eventually get to minister in Ephesus, but it would be in God’s timing, not his. What if Paul had pouted all the way to Philippi because it wasn’t his first choice? He didn’t because he really believed that God’s ways were higher and better than his own. There is something very important about trusting God unconditionally, especially when it doesn’t seem things are going as we had expected or planned.

Concluding Thought

Maybe you are facing disillusionment, disappointment, or delays. You’re not alone. God has not forgotten about you, nor does he lack the wisdom or resources to bring about his perfect will in your life. It might benefit us all to re-read Psalm 37 in its entirety, especially these parts of verses 3-5: “Trust in the LORD, and do good… Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”