You’ve been there! God gives a word either through speaking directly to your spirit man or through another person. The word has been confirmed and you are excited beyond excited. Your faith is stirred and you wait patiently. Finally, the day comes for the manifestation of the promise. All the signs point to it. This is it, or so you thought! Your understanding of the matter is now somewhat clouded. You begin to drown in despair. What just happened? A set back is what some call it. Hope deferred is how King Soloman described it (See Proverbs 13:12: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life). Either way, what you are experiencing in this moment of disappointment is quite common to all of us. This valley like experience has nothing to do with the great purpose and destiny that God has planned for you. It does not cancel out the promise that He made to you.
So how do you cope? Here is something that came to mind this morning as I was reading a short article from a ministry called “Streams Ministries International.” The article spoke of our learning to celebrate private victories as we wait for what God has prepared for us. I was thankful for the article, but as I pondered this more and more, here is another point that was brought to my attention: At times, we have got to embrace disappointments. Sometimes we are just not ready for what is ahead. Swallowing the bitter pill of disappointment and “hope deferred” as King Solomon put it, is really a pill that is good for the soul. No, it does not feel good, but once we endure we will come out on the other side more polished and mature and ready to face the responsibilities of the blessings that our future promotion holds for us. Until we are back on that path (because there are detours we must take on our way into our destiny), we must remain in love with the Father! We must worship as we have never worshipped before! Worshipping and continuing to declare and study God’s word during these types of seasons will sustain us and keep us grounded. Keep busy. Do for others. Follow after peace and do the things that you can for God’s Kingdom. Be satisfied with His goodness!
So…go ahead and cry, yell, ask God how you are to tread from this place and swallow that pill! Someday you will be glad that you did.
Denise Cook-Godfrey
Minister/Author/PlayWright/Liturgical Dance Instructor
https://www.amazon.com/author/denisecookgodfrey
[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]