DON'T DESPAIR OVER DISAPPOINTMENTS

don’t despair OVER disappointmentS

 Life happens.  Sometimes, the ball bounces just as planned and your team springs forward with vigor and victory.  Nevertheless, occasional disappointments do surface in order to test our resolve and our focus on life’s goals.  One must determine to proactively benefit and grow from any situation that disheartens and frustrates.

 Unfortunately, we humans lack the capacity to see beyond the bend in the road, as God alone can.  If we are not watchful and sensitive to His will, human shortsightedness can lead us to a dreadful place of pessimism, doubt and depression.  Allow me to cite three historical examples.  Alexander the Great conquered Persia, but broke down and wept because his troops were too exhausted to push on to India.  John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the U.S., wrote in his diary: “My life has been spent in vain and idle aspirations, and in ceaseless rejected prayers that something beneficial would be the result of my existence.”  Robert Louis Stevenson wrote words which continue to delight and enrich our lives, yet what did he compose for his epitaph? “Here lies one who meant well, who tried a little, and failed much.”  These three made substantial and durable contributions, yet they failed to fully circumvent the pitfall of despair.

 On the other hand, history reveals that some people staunchly refuse to be deterred or derailed by contravening circumstances.  In 1920, Oswald Smith stood before the examining board for selecting missionaries.  One solitary dream dominated Oswald’s heart.  He desperately wanted to become a missionary.  Over and over he prayed, “Lord, I want to go out as a missionary for you.  Open a door of service for me.”  He felt confident that at last his prayers would be answered.  However, when the examination was over, the board turned Oswald Smith down.  He had failed the test and did not meet their qualifications.  

 This was a major challenge and an unexpected life detour.  What would Oswald do?  He turned to fervent prayer, and God planted another idea in his heart.  If he could not go as a missionary, he would build a church which would send out missionaries.  And that is exactly what he did.  Oswald Smith founded and pastored The People's Church in Toronto, Canada, and their congregation sent out more missionaries than any other church at that time.  Oswald brought God into the equation, and God transformed his detour into an awesome thoroughfare of service. 

 Brothers and sisters, if you ever encounter a major disappointment, refuse to wallow in anger, apathy, doubt, or despondency.  As the sage saying goes, ‘Whenever God closes a door, He opens a window.’  So flip the script of your emotional perspective and one-dimensional thinking.  Take God out of the narrow box where you have kept Him.  Whether we realize it or not, some closed doors are directly due to the favor and blessing of Heaven.  Indeed, we may never know what God has kept us FROM (or brought us TO) by allowing an apparent door of opportunity to close in our faces.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!