Facing Disappointment
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
Disappointment is a hard thing to deal with, we always want to believe we can immediately move on from a disappointment. As Christians we want to be able to say 'if all things work for the good of those who love Him, and this didn't work then it wasn't His will.' but that is easier said than done. Emotions aren't so easy to circumvent.
When you have already begun to picture something it’s hard not to be hurt when it doesn’t come to fruition.
When that happens where do we turn.
It's important to point out that I am searching for answers as I'm writing this, not saying I have them. Disappointment and I are well acquainted.
As soon as it came to me to write on 'Facing Disappointment', Habakkuk 2:3 came to mind, "...Although the vision tarries, be patient it will not tarry."
The verse seems to contradict itself, which, the Word of God, I’m told, does not do. So I read the two preceding verses.
“I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
Then the Lord answered me and said:
“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.”
Theres are a few things clear from reading these verses.
1. Have you had a vision?
a. You need to have a clear vision, often we get disappointed because we put all our hopes in something on a whim, or based on what should be good according to the worlds standards.
2. Where did you get your vision?
a. We need clarity on the source of our vision.
b. Have you confirmed your vision with God? Have you prayed and spent time meditating on that vision?
c. Is it from God or is it from man?
d. If your vision is from man, or you don’t have a vision, seek God face and ask Him to give you a vision.
3. Have you written down your vision?
a. We are scared of sometimes writing down our vision because it creates accountability, we like to play things down in fear of disappointment or failure.
b. When you write your vision down it is an action and statement of determination. Action is how vision becomes manifest!
c. Writing your vision is a reference point, when ever you go astray it will refocus you.
d. Writing down your vision helps you remember what you are seeking, it’s easy to get lost otherwise.
4. Are your goals in line with your vision?
a. Are you disappointed in a goal that isn’t actually in line with your vision?
b. Or are you trying to make something fit that never did?
- We also need to get our goals from God. It's natural as humans to try and set goals we believe will lead us to our God given vision, but God works in ways we cannot fathom, don;t limit God by your thinking.
5. There are people attached to your vision
a. "...Write down your visions people that see it can run with it." If you proclaim your vision the helpers God has for you will hear the call and come.
b. You can’t do it alone.
6. You can always show it back to God.
a. If God said it He MUST do it.
b. Gives you reassurance that just because it didn’t happen this time, doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.
Disappointment will come but it is only a matter of when, not a matter of if. God is not man that He should lie, so whenever you're disappointed lean on that truth. God’s Word will surely come to pass, so once we realise something is not happening the way we wanted it to, or when we wanted it to, doesn’t mean it's not happening.
This verse that seemed like a contradiction isn’t one, its just God talking about two different locations, the earthly realm and the Spiritual one.
Something may seem to tarry on the earthly realm, because we live in time, so we are always waiting for something to happen NOW. Joseph waited 13 years for the dream to become manifest, we need to learn patience, just because you had the vision today doesn't mean it's meant to happen today.
But it will never tarry because God’s word has already come to fruition on the Spiritual and when it manifests on the earthly realm it’ll be just as God purposed.
Always bring yourself back to your written down vision and take solace in God's sovereignty.