Author Steve Carter asks a very relevant question in his most recent book–Grieve, Breathe, Receive. “So what do you do when life does what it does?” (pg.3) I took his book to the beach for some pleasure reading during our family summer vacation at Dauphin Island, Alabama, unaware my soul needed his latest work.

I was still reeling with disappointment after receiving the dreaded rejection e-mail at work. I had posted out for another job opportunity in the same company. After being interviewed two times by a total of four people, it seemed like a slam dunk. Even my boss in my current role thought I landed it. We thought wrong.

Fortunately, after receiving the bad news, I was already scheduled to be off work the following week. Did God orchestrate this? On the beach, from under an umbrella, I kept reading and underlining key quotes, day after day, in between staring at the ocean and staying hydrated in the humid 95˚ weather.

Every so often, my granddaughter Charlotte would walk up to my beach chair and bring me back to earth from deep reading. “Poppie, I want to feed the seagulls!” I’d get up and grab a few Doritos and put some in her three-year old hands. She’d throw them in the air with glee. Within just a few minutes a small army of birds came to feast. They flew close, all around us and the experience mesmerized Charlotte. Her laughter did me good, getting my mind off myself.

The week cooked along, and I continued to be encouraged by Carter’s words, yet still burnt with disappointment. One morning, in our rented house, I awoke early and made coffee while our daughters, their husbands and the grandkids slept.

My bride and I took our mugs outside on the top deck to enjoy the quietness. Before we sat, Gina said “Look!” and pointed at the sky. I put my coffee down on a small navy-blue end table in between two matching Adirondack chairs. “It’s a rainbow, but it hasn’t been raining and the sky is clear!” Gina said.

I looked up and immediately got misty-eyed when I discovered what Gina did. I wondered, God did you do this to lift me up? Immediately, I uttered “God keeps His promises.” And in seconds the rainbow disappeared. I looked at Gina and said, “What just happened!? This is crazy!”

My mind roamed my brain for verses I’d memorized off and on through the years. It’s like the Holy Spirit Helper pulled Psalm 3:3b. “You are my glory, the one who holds my head high.” (NLT) It felt like God was saying, “Nelson, keep your chin up!”

To move beyond disappointing circumstances is tuff, yet raw, not for spiritual wimps. Carter seems to agree. “The hope we’re after now is a gritty and courageous hope, the kind we find when we’ve run out of platitudes and niceties.” (pg.43)

And if we’re not careful, our disappointments can affect our emotions which can lead to actions we may regret. Carter provides more wisdom. “I choose not to hide, stuff, push away, minimize, or use anything as an excuse to run toward an unhealthy escape. I commit to honoring what’s going on in my heart. Our feelings have a motion to them, which is why they’re called emotions.” (pg.56)

When we returned home, I recommitted myself to the job I believe God provided for me at New York Life by working harder and asking Him for help, wisdom and strength before each workday began. My attitude boosted my actions and vice versa.

I don’t know if our disappointments are divinely appointed. However, it is interesting to discover that the word “appoint” is found within the word disappointment. Regardless, we can choose to thank God for whatever disappointment has come our way, believing He allows or appoints only that which is molding us into the image of Jesus.

Regarding your singular disappointment or the plural ones, why not take them all to the cross, however big or small. Jesus wants us to come. Jesus wants us to give what we can’t hold or bear. His hands, His righteous right arm, back and shoulders are stronger than yours. They’ve already been through a beating.

When those gloomy feelings come to roost, remember the faithfulness of God. He has always carried you through and He will carry you some more.

From his self-titled book Joshua, he provides a shot of encouragement, “Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the Lord your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!” (23: 14b, NLT)

God will not fail you even in the darkest disappointment. To give it to God is to exercise your faith–one more time.

Top picture of man leaning against a wall is courtesy of pexels.com and beach picture is courtesy of “Nelson and his Nikon”. Watercolor picture of the cross was painted by Nelson Haynes