A 5-year-old boy was told that his family was going to the Grand Canyon. He could hardly wait. When the day finally arrived, the boy was visibly disappointed. He said, “I thought you said that it was a big cannon.” When you’re hoping for the Grand Cannon, you’ll be let down, even by something as spectacular as the Grand Canyon!
Something similar happened with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were disappointed with Jesus. For they had hoped that “He was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel” (Luke 24:21). But He was crucified, and now His body was gone!
If you’ve ever prayed and hoped for something—a job, a baby, or a ministry opportunity—that you felt was God’s will, but then it didn’t come to be, you can identify with the disciples’ disappointment. But Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering His glory?” (Luke 24:25-26). The disciples knew that Jesus would redeem Israel, but they had overlooked the prophecies about the Messiah having to suffer. They foolishly focused on part of His Word, but not the whole. The same can be true of us.
Thankfully, God is patient. Jesus walked and talked with the two disillusioned disciples along that long dusty road. He asked them questions to draw out the source of their spiritual disappointment. Then He taught them.
We can trust that our unchanging God will deal similarly with us. One songwriter expresses it this way: “Carefully touching me, causing my eyes to see. Jesus makes beautiful things of my life.”
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 7:1-37
More:
Here are some challenging words from God’s Word: Luke 21:17; John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12. What similar passages can you think of?
Next:
What are the main sources of your spiritual disappointments? How can prayer, God’s Word, and talking with other believers help you to overcome them?
alli on July 20, 2013 at 12:30 am
Why its so important to read the true Gospel not just parts we want to hear. I too have fallen to disallusion when things didnt pan out but despite the false teaching so teach God never promised to fulfill every whim we have or dream we dream but to further The gospel. Christians can fall away when they dont know there true purpose we arent here for us
ehdlive on July 20, 2013 at 5:04 am
It is only through the help of the Holy Spirit that we can really capture the significance of the Word in our lives. The book of John says, “But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth…” Thank God!.. we have the Spirit in us.
winn collier on July 22, 2013 at 3:52 pm
oh, man, that’s hilarious: cannon. I can’t imagine being disappointed at this most magnificent of places, but I guess if you’re expecting an explosion from a turret, it’s a real downer.