This title seems to be contradictory doesn’t it? Being “delivered” implies safety and protection, while “disappointed” implies still a desire to be what the person was delivered from. Contradictory? Yes. Make sense? Well… in a way, yes and no. Let me explain…
Have you ever wanted something passionately… hopefully… prayerfully… faithfully… expectantly… joyfully? Have you ever had whatever that thing was close to being in your hand, and then at the last moment it was denied? Have you ever been as sure as you possibly can, through prayer and discernment, that what you asked God for was His will and within your grasp, but it fell apart?
If you can identify with those things, let me suggest a few thoughts for consideration.
First… Thank God no matter how much you are disappointed! Again… THANK GOD for what He did regardless of how much faith you had in asking through prayer and He still said “No.” Why? You MUST know and believe God knows more than you do and protects you even when you don’t like it and are disappointed.
Second… Be glad God is sovereign and in control of all your life events, otherwise you would be TOAST! Personally, I’d rather deal with disappointment trusting God than to get MY desire and get cooked in the process! Many times “No!” is a much better answer than “Ok” or “Yes.” After all, unless I’m really off base here, God is wiser and knows much more than any of us do.
Third… Trust God to provide. We wrongly thing we “need” X, Y, or Z to exist or be happy. Sometimes we tie “X, Y, & Z” to something we want and prayerfully ask God to provide. However… we are foolishly self-centered to think we know better than God what is best for us. Our “X, Y, or Z” desires… if granted… could be the absolutely worst thing for us. As a result God… in His infinite wisdom… overrules our wants, wills, & desires. He said “NO!” as a sovereign God who is perfect, loving, and always does the right thing.
When that happens, rebellious hearts will cry… “That’s not fair!” or “I have free will and can choose what I want!!” But those hearts have forgotten what Paul wrote in Romans 9…
Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. 20 Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use?
Really big question: “What can God do?” (Anything He desires). Why? (Because He’s God!). Anyone with a problem with those things has a problem with God. But I digress… back to the question.
When we ask God for something… anything… we MUST trust that God will give, allow, or cause whatever HE deems best in the situation. Thus we should (MUST?) be thankful, joyful, and glad for WHATEVER is the answer to our prayers. Always. Every time. Without exception.
This is absolutely the best post in ages, mainly because everything in it is something I have needed to understand more fully and also share with friends who did not get the answer to their prayers they were hoping for. Thank you again, Br. Ron for sharing your wisdom and insight with us.