Have you ever been disappointed with God?
I have. Recently, in fact.
You see, my husband has been out of work for three months now. We were beginning to get a bit discouraged when he got an interview with a good company.
We were hopeful. The job possibility was exciting.
But then my husband was rejected. I tried to put on my brave, Christian "I trust God with this situation" face, but it just wasn't happening.
I was sad. Sad that my husband still wasn't employed. Sad that God had given us another "no."
And dare I even say, I was a little disappointed in God?
What do you do when you're disappointed in the God who is in control of your life
Realize you're only human
Even though my faith is strong, and I have an underlying peace and joy in the Lord, from time to time I stumble.
My faith gets a little shaky. I wonder if God really hears my prayers. I wonder if he's evergoing to answer.
I believe these feelings are just a part of being human. We don't have perfect faith, because we are not perfect.
It's what we do with these feelings of doubt that matters.
Turn to the Word (and memorize it)
It's in moments like these - those deep, dark moments - that it's important to immerse yourself in scripture.
When you begin to doubt, replace those thoughts with the words of the Bible.
I was doubting God's provision, so I immediately reminded myself of Philippians 4:19, which says,
"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
I also read Matthew 6:25-34, which talks about how God takes care of the birds and the flowers. And if he cares for them, of course he cares for me!
When my mind is doubting, the Bible reassures me of the truth of God's love for me.
Confess to your believing friends
If your faith is feeling shaky, and you're disappointed with God, let your closest believing friends know. Ask them to pray for you.
On the day Jim got his latest job rejection, a friend messaged me on Facebook. Over the course of our conversation, we began to discuss how we get frustrated in waiting for God to answer prayer.
She reminded me that God's timing is not our timing, and that we need to learn to be content with His timing. By being impatient, we are not being spiritually content.
As hard as it was to hear, she is right. I realized I wasn't being spiritually content. I wanted an answer in my time, and I didn't want to wait for God.
The problem is that God sees the big picture, and I only see a small slice. While a job for Jim right now might seem good in this moment, only God knows how he is using this situation in light of eternity. I need to trust.
And ladies, sometimes we need good friends to remind us of these hard truths.
Get outside
When I'm wrestling with God, I like to take long walks down our country road.
As I walk and talk with God, I look at the mountains surrounding our valley. I take note of the clouds, the flowers, and the tall farm grasses along the way.
And as I marvel at God's vast and beautiful creation, I am reminded that the God who made all of creation holds me in his capable hands.
It is true that "the heavens declare the glory of God." (Psalm 19:1 ESV)
When I'm down, out, and depressed, getting outside helps me remember how great and powerful God is.
Worship
Have you ever noticed that it is impossible to worry when you're singing praise music? Worship forces the bad thoughts out of your head and replaces them with good and correct thoughts about God.
My disappointment with God doesn't last long when I turn up the praise music and start singing along. many songs completely uplift my spirit, because they remind me of Who I serve, and that this life on earth will one day fade away, and I will be worshipping God for eternity.
In the end, all this disappointment and trial on earth, while difficult today, will fade into my distant memory. It's all about perspective.
Are you disappointed in God today? Do you wish he would answer your prayer with a "yes" right now, instead of a "no" or "wait?"
I understand. I've been struggling a lot in this area myself. Crack open your Bible. Try reading Psalm 121, Isaiah 40:28-31 or Hebrews 4:14-16.
If you're still down, call a friend who will encourage you in Christ. And turn up the praise music!
Though it's difficult right now, eventually this season of life will pass, and we will go on to eternity, worshipping our Savior and throwing crowns at his feet. That makes me smile. How about you?
Editor's note: This article was originally published on Lynnae McCoy's website. It has been modified and republished here with permission.
