3 Powerful Steps To Take When People Disappoint You

What Do You Do When People Disappoint You?

All through life’s journey, we get disappointed by people. They tell us that they will do something and they don’t, or they behave in ways that bring harm to you or themselves or the people you love. They do dumb things. Just today I shared with my church the need to have patience and forbearance. (An old word that means to put up, and endure).

I am also keenly aware that disappointment is not a 1-way street. It is not just people who disappoint us, but we even at times disappoint other people. If the truth is known, we do it more times than any of us would like to admit. We can all be big fat donkeys at times. Stubborn and self-willed.

But what do you do when people disappoint you?

Jesus said in Luke’s gospel chapter 17 that is impossible that no offenses should come. So the issue is not how to prevent yourself from being disappointed but instead what you do when those disappointments come along your way. Here are some questions to ask yourself when you have been disappointed.

Don’t Nurse It

Do you nurse it by having your focus on your pain? There is a big temptation to focus on the offense and your feelings of betrayal. Remember our Lord who was betrayed by one of his disciples. He did not focus on the deception but instead, concentrate on the joy set before him. Heb 12:2

Don’t Rehearse It

Do you rehearse it by playing it over and over again in your mind? Many of us, myself included replaying the offense over and over again in our minds. It is like somehow we can get back at the person by rehearsing it mentally. We keep them in the prison of our hearts and have to get to the point that we forgive them the emotional debt we feel by being betrayed and disappointed. Remember the parable of the unforgiving servant. Matt 18:21

Disperse It!

Do you choose to disperse it, remembering how much you have been forgiven of, set free of, released from the debt of your disappointing behavior in the eyes of a loving and merciful God? The key to overcoming being disappointed is to remind yourself that you have also disappointed people and in reality your heavenly Father at times as well.

Paul in the book of Ephesians chapter 4 talks of walking in a manner that is “worthy” of our calling. It means to walk out our life with equal value to the knowledge of what God has done for us. In other words, since we have been given so much by God, forgiven of so much, been blessed by so much, to walk our lives in such a way that reflects how much value God has given us.

So when people disappoint you, remember, don’t nurse it, don’t rehearse it, remember all that God has given you and disperse it! Jesus honestly does care for you, and if you let Him, He will change your life!

Now that is something to think about!

Blessings to you all!