In life and certainly in ministry, disappointment is a fact. It's a reality. It's not a question of whether or not we will be disappointed. The question is, why did it happen and how will we handle it?
When it comes to your hopes and dreams, a good way to handle disappointment is to ask yourself, “What was I really hoping for? The right things? God’s best? Or was it merely my fantasy, my daydream?" If your hopes aren’t coming true, try changing your hopes! Let your hopes be transformed by the Word of God so that they can be conformed to the will of God.
What about disappointment that comes from other people? How does God want you to handle it when other people disappoint you?
Here’s the first half of the truth: Other people are not perfect. Sooner or later, your best friend will disappoint you. The person who loves you most will let you down. Someone you were depending on will not come through for you. That’s because no one is perfect. The Bible says that all have sinned and fall short of glory of God. No one is righteous, no, not one.
Here is the second half of the truth: That includes you! You’re not perfect either. You disappoint people. You let them down. You and I don’t always come through for people when they are depending on us. You may be saying, “I guess that’s true. But I didn’t mean to do it! I didn’t do it on purpose! I just forgot!” You know what? You’re probably right! You know what else? You can say the same thing about the other people who failed you in some way: Assume they didn’t do it on purpose. Maybe they just forgot. They’re not perfect, and neither are you. As Martin Luther would say, "Put the best construction on everything." Treat the other person as you want to be treated when you are the one doing the disappointing.
There’s something else about you that you need to know. You are so loved. Almighty God loves you with such a vast and astounding love that He sent His Son to be your Savior. The way to handle disappointment is to receive the love Jesus offers you, and to share that love with the people around you. Receive and share. Receive the forgiveness Jesus offers you, and share that forgiveness with the people around you. Don’t expect them to be perfect, any more than you are perfect. Put your hope and trust in Jesus Christ, the holy, sinless Son of God, who loves you and gave Himself for you.
Jesus did not fail you, and He never will. He did not forget about you, and He never will. He did not let you down, and He never will. Jesus Christ came through for you, and He always will – not only in this short season of earthly life, but for eternity, forever.

