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The worst thing I ever heard from my parents was, “I am so disappointed in you.”
They said it regularly. It seemed natural to disappoint my parents. I expected to disappoint them. After all, I spent my time trying to please myself. They were collateral damage. But when they said I had disappointed them, it got my attention.
I also disappointed my teachers—the few who believed in me enough to actually have any expectations. I disappointed coaches. Sometimes I felt like I disappointed all the adults in my life and most of the children. Why? Because I was selfish; my top priority was me. I did what I wanted to do, and it upset people. Have you ever felt like the world was disappointed in you? Have you found yourself disappointed in yourself because of pointless failures?
Do you ever feel like God is disappointed in you? After all, he has high expectations! The Bible says, “Be holy, as I am holy” 1 Peter 1:16. How can you possibly be holy? How can the best of us NOT disappoint God? If holiness is the standard, is God disappointed in us—ALL THE TIME?
No. God is not disappointed in us all the time. God understands. “He is mindful that we are but dust” Psalm 103:14.
Yes, we fail. We sin. We sin so badly that sometimes we engage in nothing short of active rebellion. But God understands that we are made of dust. We have our limits and our tendency to fail. Following the flood, God told Noah and the animals to exit the ark when the ground was dry. Noah then built an altar and made sacrifices to God (using extra animals brought on the journey for that purpose). God was pleased with Noah:
“And the Lord said in his heart, ‘I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake, for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” Genesis 8:21.
God knows that people have not necessarily changed—the intent or inclination of man’s heart is evil from his youth—but God understands and withholds judgment. Later God says he is aware that we are made of dust. No, he is not perpetually disappointed in us. Instead, God looks at us through eyes of GRACE.
Have you received God’s grace? The Bible says that “there is therefore now NO CONDEMNATION to those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1. Are you IN CHRIST? You can be if you give him your life. Confess your sin and place your life in God’s hands. Trust him to remove your sin. He can take away the disappointment and replace it with peace, joy, and hope.
Dear God, I know I am a sinner. Forgive me for my sins against you. I know Jesus died to take away my sin. Jesus, take my life. Cleanse it, restore it, redeem it. Fill me with your hope and peace and show me how to please you. Make me a person who brings you joy and delight. Thank you for salvation. Thank you for grace.
ΑΩ
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