This was going to be the year. Aaron Rodgers was at his peak and was putting in another MVP-style season. He was surrounded by an amazing core of receivers. The defense was running on all cylinders. There was no way the Packers were going to miss the Super Bowl this time. And yet, as seems to be the same story year after year, they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the playoffs. The Packers were out. Again. Another disappointing end to an otherwise amazing season. This has been the same song, different verse, for the past 11 years since the Packer’s last Super Bowl appearance. More disappointment.
Of course, in the grand scheme of things, the Packers missing the Super Bowl is not a big deal. The earth still revolves around the sun, and Jesus is still on His throne, and there really is no difference in my life. But there are some people who suffer much deeper, more meaningful disappointments in life. Trust me, there are much more serious things going on in people’s lives than the Packers missing the Super Bowl. Some have job disappointments. Some have marriage disappointments. Some have family disappointments. There is an unending list of things that can go wrong, leaving people with a sense of foreboding and dread and heartbreak and discouragement.
It’s hard to imagine that Jesus’ disciples would feel disappointment while ministering with Him, and yet that happened quite often. Most of the disappointment was due to their own misinterpretation or spin on things. Other times is was due to their wrong expectations. Yet still, there were times when they had legitimate reasons to be disappointed. How were they to handle it? What were they to do with it?
In the gospel of John, Jesus had just washed the disciples feet and told them the new commandment was to love. And yet, during a time that should have been a spiritual high turned into a spiritual disappointment. Jesus revealed that one of them would betray him (which Judas would then leave to do just that), He told Peter that he would deny Jesus (after having boldly said he would die for Jesus), and He told them that He was leaving them. The disciples were disappointed and their hearts were troubled. In John 14:1 Jesus tells them not to let their hearts be troubled (or disappointed). Why? They believe in and trust God, they are to believe in and trust Jesus. He would go on to tell them of the place that He is preparing for them (and all believers). But the key word is trust. When you are disappointed, trust that Jesus is in control, that He knows what He’s doing, that He is moving things according to His plans and purposes in His timing, and trust that He still loves you even during the difficult times. We know we can trust Him with these things because the Bible gives us these promises. Trust God that His Word and promises are true. Yes, you are disappointed. Yes, you are hurt. Yet you can trust God and trust Christ that they are still with you and will see you through this season of life. God never changes. He and His promises are the same yesterday, today, and forever. TRUST TRUMPS DISAPPOINTMENT!