A cursory glance at the headlines can cause even the most stoic of individuals to become disappointed.  You may wonder, “How can I find peace with so much tragedy and uncertainty in the world?”  The prophet Isaiah was bringing a strong message to the nation of Israel for their wayward behavior.  Israel’s reliance upon man rather than God led to this stinging indictment,

Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
And with Sheol we have made a pact.
The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by,
For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception.”  (Isaiah 28:15)

God however, did not forget His people and His promise to them.  Isaiah reveals that a Messiah would come and that a remnant would remain,

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD,
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone,
A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.
He who believes in it will not be disturbed.”  (Isaiah 28:16)

The Apostle Peter elaborates upon this prophecy revealing that the corner stone refers to Jesus Christ,

“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”  This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.  (1 Peter 2:6-8)

Peter quotes Isaiah 28:16, declaring that the one who believes in Him will not be disappointed.  What a tremendous promise for us today.  This is in stark contrast to those who do not believe; they will, as the Hebrew word indicates,  “make haste” or flee in sudden panic and experience shame because of their dashed hopes.

The unbeliever rejects the corner stone and rather than being a precious corner stone it becomes a stone and stumbling and a rock of offense (Psalm  118:22).  Just as a magnet has two poles, one that attracts and one that repels, so the Gospel has the opposite effect on believers and unbelievers respectively.

Jesus is the “precious” corner stone and those who believe in Him will not be disappointed.  As you journey through life, you quickly discover there is no shortage of opportunities that cause  disappointment:  friends, work, your favorite sports team, the political process, busyness, and even yourself!

Chronic disappointment can put you at risk for emotional or even physical difficulties.  Disappointment often results from your expectations being out of line with reality.  Some disappointments are predictable and preventable whereas others are unavoidable. It is important to differentiate between the two so that you can respond appropriately.

So how do we deal with disappointment?  Jesus gives us a realistic perspective,

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.  (John 16:33)

The first step is realizing that you will experience disappointment as you go through life.   M. Scott Peck in The Road Less Traveled:  A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values, and Spiritual Growth, wisely observes, “Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult-once we truly understand and accept it-then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.”

You must realize that although this world brings tribulation, that if you are in Christ then you can overcome because He has overcome the world.  The next step is to evaluate your expectations to see if your expectations are realistic.  William Shakespeare wrote, “Expectation is the root of all heartache.”  Repeated disappointment may be the result of a pattern of faulty or unrealistic thinking.  Finally, if you are frequently disappointed, evaluate what you are thinking and change your faulty thinking patterns.

Keep your eyes on Him and you will experience consistent freedom from disappointment,

and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.  (Romans 5:5)

You may experience temporary disappointment, but never lose sight of the enduring hope you have in Christ.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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