Turning Disappointments Into His Appointments.

-March 25, 2023-

Good morning, happy Saturday,

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

(Romans 5:5).

We all make plans and look forward to them happening, but sometimes God changes the plan. We should not be disappointed, because has He has another plan, a better plan. Only the Lord change a disappointment into His appointment. We don’t like changes, but God knows best. We should not be disappointed, but accept what He allows, adapt to it, and be appreciative of it. When we take off the ‘dis,’ and replace it with ‘His,’ we find rest and peace.

The word disappoint is defined as, “Something or someone that is not what you were hoping it would be.” It usually comes when expectations are running high and our circumstances don’t measure up to them. It can also occur when we praying for something not to happen and instead it does come to pass. Men of God such as Joseph, David, and Paul all experienced disappointment when their plans were changed. It is not if disappointments will come, but how we handle then when they do.

Joseph’s dreams seemed shattered several times. His brothers sold him into slavery. Then while serving and prospering in Potiphar’s house, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of assaulting her. Then he was thrown into prison where again God blessed and prospered him. After successfully interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and chief baker, the cupbearer forgot him and he stayed in the prison for two more years, before being called upon to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Then Pharaoh made him the prime minister and the rest is history. His dreams were fulfilled. He later told His brothers, who feared after their father’s death that he would seek revenge on them, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” He saw how God worked in his life for the good, to bring about good, for the greater good.

David planned to build the temple but because he was a man of war who had shed much blood, this great task and blessing would go to his son Solomon instead. David didn’t sulk and complain, but instead made all the provisions before he died and instructed Solomon how to build it. Solomon said in 1 Kings 8:17-18, “Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart.” When we plan to do something for God and can’t, He counts it to us as having done it. I got sick and can’t be at church tomorrow to sing in our Worship Team and open the meetings and do all my ministries and go out to lunch with family and friends. At first I was really disappointed but I recognized that God has a purpose in this and he will credit me for having in my heart to do it.

God changed Paul’s plans. Twice the Lord in Acts 16:6-10, Paul was forbidden and not permitted to preach the Word in Asia and Bithynia respectively, instead God gave him a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and pleading for him to, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” He concluded that God called him go there instead and preach the gospel.

May we realize that God’s will is the best thing for us. He will cause all things to work together for good as it says in Romans 8:28. God will turn our disappointments into His appointments. We may not find out until we get to heavens why things happened as they did. Let us trust in the Lord who knows best and thank Him. It is so assuring, comforting, and encouraging.

May a blessed day even when God changes our plans. Stay safe and healthy.

Resting in the sovereign will of God,

Dean