"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21
Okay,
can we just admit it and get it out there – you have been disappointed with
God. Does it help to know that you are in good company?
Consider these surprising quotes from some well regarded people:
"I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes." - Billy Graham
"I am exhausted crying for help....waiting for my God to help me." - King David (Psalm 69)
"Where is God? Go to Him when your need is desperate and what do you find? A door slammed in your face." - C. S. Lewis
"I have had enough, Lord.....Take my life." - Elijah
"In my soul, I can't tell you how dark it is....I feel like refusing God." - Mother Teresa
"My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" - Jesus
"God has no right to treat me like this -- it isn't fair!" - Job
I would take a guess
that most, if not all of those people whose quotes were represented in that
clip are enjoying Heaven right now and I guarantee you that they are not
disappointed!
Let
me ask you, “Have you ever disappointed God?” Again, let me ask you, “Have you
disappointed God more often than He has disappointed you?”
“Did God quit on you when
you disappointed Him?” “Will you quit
on Him?”
Okay, I will go first! I
have been disappointed with God.
In
order to resolve this faith crisis I had to face some hard options, "Was
God insensitive to my need?" or "Was He unable to meet my need"
or "Was He unwilling to do so?" or "Were my expectations
unrealistic?"
Given those considerations I had to
finally conclude that my expectations of God were unrealistic because I just
couldn't come to the other conclusions. I know my God cares and I know He is
able and I know He is willing.
So, this brings us back to the question,
"What should I expect from God?"
That is a HUGE question that will take several weeks to answer. But in the meantime, I leave you with another quote to help keep you from being disappointed with God:
"When I can't trace His hand I can trust His heart." - Charles Spurgeon