Study 72

Exhaustion

Maybe Elijah ran because he was simply worn out. He’d announced that God would send a drought and for three years he’d been living with that pressure. Then came the build up to Carmel. Gradually, without the aid of radio or television, people got to hear about the contest between God and Baal. Elijah had to face the demands of the day itself and finally the crushing realisation that Ahab and Jezebel were untouched and unchanged. Maybe he was emotionally shattered.

He’d probably set all his hopes on the confrontation between God and the priests of Baal. ‘This will turn the nation,’ he’d thought. ‘Everyone will worship the Lord now.’ Then, when Ahab and Jezebel showed no sign of repentance, the tremendous miracle seemed to be for nothing, and Elijah had collapsed.

Disappointment

Disappointment drains you like nothing else. Let’s say you decide on a special gospel outreach. Someone slaves over a dramatic script; others prepare the music and PowerPoint presentations. People are praying and rehearsing hard, giving all their energies to make the event successful. Leaflets are printed and delivered around the neighbourhood. By the evening everything is ready. Expectations run high. The doors are flung wide – and each night a handful of people come along. As a friend of mine would say, ‘There’s another one pouring in.’

The following Sunday the church meets as usual. ‘Terrific evenings, weren’t they?’ says everyone. ‘The performances were superb.’ But inside you’re thinking, ‘The performances were great, but where were the audiences? We worked so hard – the babysitting, the costumes, the rehearsals. But was it all for nothing?’ If the truth were known you’re drained and deeply disappointed.

Lack of Appreciation

We can even be disappointed by those who are closest to us. Lack of appreciation in marriage is hard to bear. ‘She doesn’t appreciate me,’ says the husband. ‘I’m out all day, coping with the pressure, making important decisions, battling to keep on top of the work. I come home exhausted wanting some time to unwind. I pick up the paper and look forward to something to eat, but all she wants to do is talk about what she’s been doing.’

‘He doesn’t appreciate me,’ says the wife. ‘I’m stuck here all day, coping with the kids, changing nappies, doing the washing, ironing, cleaning, shopping, cooking …”No, don’t touch that, Peter! Yes, it’s pretty, Susan. James, leave that alone! It will fall over. Yes it will. It has! Now stop crying. It’s only hurting a little bit. Let’s kiss and make it better …” After a day of this my husband comes in, flops on the sofa, picks up the paper and asks, “Is dinner ready yet?” He doesn’t care about me. He doesn’t understand what I go through all day long. All he wants is my body. He doesn’t appreciate me at all.’ Disappointment leads to bitterness and hostility. Spiritual collapse is close at hand.

To Meditate On

God doesn’t disappoint his people.

‘Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled’ (Jos. 21:45).

‘Our fathers … cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed’ (Ps. 22:4,5).

‘No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame’ (Ps. 25:3).

‘I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed’ (Is. 49:23).

Food For Thought

Disappointment can come through:

people or circumstances (Job 6:21; Psalm 10:1; Proverbs 17:21; Isaiah 49:4; Jeremiah 2:36; 8:15; 14:19; Lamentations 4:17; Ezekiel 37:11);

not understanding God’s purposes (Job 30:26; Psalm 73:13; Jeremiah 15:18; Luke 24:21);

sin (Job 11:20; Proverbs 10:28; 11:7; Lamentations 3:18; Hosea 13:15; Joel 1:10; Haggai 1:9; Zechariah 9:5).

To Consider

Read the following verses and note who was disappointed and why:

Ruth 1:20; 1 Samuel 1:10; 15:11; 30:3-6; Matthew 19:22; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 1:6.

Does it encourage you to know that Bible characters experienced disappointment?

How do you think that God would like you to respond to disappointment?

To Do

Make an effort to appreciate people this week.

To Be Inspired

‘Faith is often strengthened right at the place of disappointment.’
Rodney McBride