These are notes from our 4/10/2011 church meeting.
Leader: Tim Harris
Assignment
What are some keys to dealing with disappointment? We all face situations where people and life events leave us down, disappointed, and depressed. How do you get over those things and move on? Draw from scripture and personal experience.
My Notes
Keys to Dealing with Disappointment
- Take it to GOD in prayer. Be specific about the disappointment and ask for comfort, wisdom and help.
- Remember that people will let you down. This helps me minimize the disappointment because I just expect for people to do it. Don't mistake this for pessimism; rather, it's simply the realization that we all make mistakes and I don't need to elevate any individual in my mind to being above letting me down—and that includes myself toward others, of course.
- Talk with someone about what happened. Having someone listen as you share your pain seems to be therapeutic.
- When possible, discuss the problems with the person who disappointed you. If you handle the conversation properly, you'll likely feel better afterwards.
- Remember that all things in life are temporary—good and bad times, they both pass.
- Read the Psalms.
Others' Notes
- Ask GOD to help you see the lesson that He is teaching you from the disappointment.
- Remember that GOD will never disappoint you! Take comfort in that truth. Also realize, however, that you and I disappoint GOD when we sin and therefore we can't expect others not to disappoint us from time to time.
- Helpful Scripture to read during times of disappointment:
- Deut. 33:27 (NIV) – The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’
- Psalm 90:2 (NKJV) – Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
- Psalm 145:13 (NKJV) – Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
- Isa. 9:6 (NIV) – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Jer. 31:3 (NASB) – The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
- Jer. 32:40 (NKJV) – And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.
- Heb. 6:17-20 (NKJV) – Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
- 2 Cor. 12:9 (NKJV) – And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- Psalm 139
- Heb. 4:14-16 – Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- Listen to GOD-focused music.
