Dealing with the Reality of Reality: Disillusionment
Disillusionment is defined as a feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be. Can you count how many times you have felt disillusioned in your life? How about your life as a Believer? If we can be honest for a minute, we could all admit that this is a constant in our daily walk.
We set up expectations in our lives without even being aware of them. When we enter a new relationship: in dating, marriage or friendships; have kids, take on a new job or begin a new health routine, we all have an idea of how it will all play out. We have a plan. Even when we take the new endeavor to the Lord and feel His guiding hand on it, we cannot help but have our own idea of how it will all end.
We construct perceptions of what our situations will look like if we make certain choices. When those results do not seem to line up with our choices, we can often feel confused, disappointed and start to doubt God’s goodness, graciousness, love, and even His plan.
Often, we feel that if it’s God’s plan, everything will go smoothly. However, this is not always the case. In moments like these we must hold on to the hope that we have in our Savior and draw close to God, asking Him to remind us who He is and who we are in Him.
“’For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD.”—Isaiah 55:8
God meets us at the crossroads of our pain and confusion.
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit…The LORD redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him.”—Psalm 34:18, 22
Let us see the affliction as a blessing, knowing that we are in God’s great hands. We can remember the hope we have in knowing that He can redeem any situation. He does not call us to be successful, but calls us to rely on Him… and Him alone.
We can rejoice in knowing that God does have a plan for us, and that even when our feelings change, He is unchanging. Eagerly we can wait upon Him to perfectly work out our disappointment for His glory, and to know that He will bless us through the storm—if we will only be still and set hearts and minds on Him.
“Let us not be conformed to the patterns of this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds.”—Romans 12:2
We can cast our cares on the Lord because He desires this from us!
“Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.”—Psalm 55:22
Think of the image of casting our cares. When we cast we give it all, with confidence, to God because we know that He is in control, and we are exhausted from carrying the burden ourselves. God wants our every single anxiety, worry and disappointment—He never intended for us to take care of it all. As a result of casting our cares upon the Lord we are left without burden, we feel true peace because He has drawn us close in the process.
If you are struggling today with anxiety, disappointment or confusion, we want to encourage you in prayer. Confess to God right now that you know He is walking beside you, that He desires to carry your burdens, and that you have tried to carry them and it has been exhausting. Ask Him to give you His strength and to remind you of His promises. Reach out today by calling us at 855.208.0723 and we will pray with you. Give thanks to God for His never-ending, never-failing love.