Not long ago I was certain that God was moving my husband and me in a specific direction. Two different sources, without consulting one another, encouraged us to pursue the same opportunity. So we did. Doors flew open as we kept moving forward. We were encouraged and excited, for what we never thought would happen was coming together right before our very eyes. As we bathed the whole process in prayer, God seemed to be honoring our requests. Until the eleventh hour, that is. That’s when the final door was slammed shut in our faces. We were shocked, and felt cheated and tricked by God. There was absolutely no way to make our dream a reality.
Why would you do this to us, God? Why lead us on? We felt like the prophet Habakkuk who complained to the Lord, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen!” (Habakkuk 1:2). We were truly angry and deeply disappointed, though deep down we still believed that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28).
Like Habakkuk’s two “complaints” found in chapters 1 and 2, it was good for us to be honest with God—bringing our questions and complaints to Him. God knew them, even though we were sometimes scared to articulate the words. Maybe we feared punishment or rejection—failing to remember that His perfect love expels fear (1 John 4:18).
As for Habakkuk, even though he was still full of questions and sadness, he stated, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord!” (Habakkuk 3:18). Acknowledging that God was still in control, he added, “The Sovereign Lord is my strength!” (Habakkuk 3:19). Yes, He’s still good, even when circumstances are not.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Ruth 4:1-22
More:
Read Matthew 26:36-39 and see how Jesus honestly expressed His feelings to His Father.
Next:
Do you sometimes struggle with telling God how you really feel? Why or why not?
Gary Shultz on March 18, 2016 at 5:38 am
That’s a real heart breaker Marlena. Getting older seems to have even that out somewhat, for me; for two reasons. I don’t have goals and targets in life for careers, raising children, and so forth. Although as we get older I do believe we should stay active and fit in our spiritual and physical lives. Two, I have read the history of God’s great wisdom, I have repeatedly seen His hand move in life. I don’t get bummed as easily because I have seen God pull me out over and over again. As perplexing events happen, I more often say, what is God up to now, and what should I be seeing. He has the script written perfectly. Thanks Marlena.
gagirllive on March 18, 2016 at 8:37 am
This is so good, Marlena. As I read the account of your experience, I felt afresh the sting of my own “disappointment with God” that happened a few years ago. Like you, I felt led on…duped in some way by God. It wasn’t until I got real with Him about how I felt that a sliver of healing began to take shape. I grew up hearing, “Don’t question God”, but the scriptures seem replete with people who did…who voiced their confusion, hurt, and disappointment. Yes we must reverently remember who He is, and we can’t demand our Sovereign LORD to give us answers, but He welcomes honest dialogue so that we learn to trust Him even when we don’t understand. We can ask the hard questions. He’s big enough to handle every one of them, and in the end we do like Jesus…surrender our will to His. Thanks for speaking to this important aspect of our journey of faith, Marlena. It’s a blessing to us today.
sdwise on March 18, 2016 at 9:48 am
Habakkuk 1:1-4 speaks about questioning God, but it is in reference to the deterioration of society and the abuse of power, injustices, oppression and acts of violence prevelant in Judah at that time. The complaint was that no one seemed to live according to the Laws of God, and they seemed surrounded by perverted judgment to do anything about it. This takes dissapointment beyond things not turning out like we would like them to. As in this present time we are surrounded by the same thing. It sometimes makes us question God about how long it will all last until Jesus comes back to render final judgment. Until that time I will trust that “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7
gagirllive on March 18, 2016 at 11:02 am
Sdwise, you are right in your comment. The context of Habakkuk’s disappointment wasn’t about a personal letdown but about the condition of the nation. And we are so right there today in our own nation, aren’t we? However, I think Marlena beautifully expressed that the principle in handling disappointment is the same…open and honest dialogue about our feelings…talking things out with Him until we are able to trust that He is God and knows what He’s doing. Faith. Trust. Surrender. It’s what He’s after.
sdwise on March 19, 2016 at 9:10 am
I agree. We just have to be careful not to make scripture say what it does not. There are many other scriptures relative to developing that principle of trusting God in the midst of personal dissapointment. The account of Joseph who was favored of his father and dreamed of being over all who experienced many dissapointments before becoming second in command to Pharoah. Marlena did do a wonderful job explaining what to do with our feelings and that it is ok to go to God with them and questions in any situation.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on March 18, 2016 at 1:38 pm
Thanks for this very timely reminder Marlena – I can genuinely empathize with you as our family have experienced a very harsh disappointment. Looking back at my life however, I see how God has proven Himself faithful time and again and how He has consistently brought something good out of any perceived bad situation. With that in mind, I can’t help but believe that He will indeed bring something good out of this, seemingly awful situation. As I once heard, “if it ain’t good yet, it ain’t finished yet”. Praying for you and your husband.
Gary Shultz on March 19, 2016 at 7:17 am
Good one Ruth!