Disappointments

Deuteronomy 9:15-16 So I turned and went down from the mountain, while the mountain was ablaze; the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. Then I saw that you had indeed sinned against the Lord your God, by casting for yourselves an image of a calf; you had been quick to turn from the way that the Lord had commanded you.

Moses’ disappointment and dismay over the actions of a rebellious and stubborn people must have weighed heavily upon him. Descending from Mount Horeb with the very words of God etched upon two stone tablets, Moses is confronted with blatant idolatry and uproar as the Israelite’s cavort in madness before the golden calf. In anger, Moses flung the tablets from his hands, smashing them before their eyes.

Disappointment, however, drove Moses to seek God. Scripture tells us Moses was so broken in spirit that he lay prostrate before the Lord for forty days and nights, ingesting no food or drink (Deut 9:18).

Disappointments in life are to become appointments with God. They are God’s invitations to draw close to Him and then, He will draw close to us (James 4:8).

Are we looking for perfection in this world? Have the imperfections and failures of those close to us or a situation we had placed all our hope in, left us feeling disappointed and downcast? Now is the time to seek the Lord and turn our face to Jesus. Let’s not be surprised when we discover that there is nothing perfect this side of Heaven, because we live in a fallen world. Perfection comes when we reach the OTHER side!

Encouragement replaces despair and disappointment as we meditate upon the life-giving words of Jesus.

John 16:33 I have said this to you so that in me you will have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good courage! I have conquered the world.

Moses intervened in prayer for the Israelite nation and God spared them from destruction. Let’s recall to mind that our loving Father calls us back to His presence, to find new joy, hope and peace to keep on going on, despite the disappointments.