Disappointment with God is the state of having expectations or wishes of God unfulfilled. Depending on your theology and your experience, you have a number of expectations of God. You have a picture of who he is, how he relates to you, and what he “should” do for you. It is important that your expectations are accurate because when they are not, you become discouraged and disappointed with God. Here is a letter from a new Christian who is struggling with expectations of God:

Since I became a believer, I have had problem after problem. I am trying to do things right, but my finances, job, marriage, and health aren’t getting better; in fact, they are all worse. I am confused and disappointed. I don’t know how to pray and I don’t feel the presence of God. What am I doing wrong? Why doesn’t God help?

Like most of us, she is struggling with unmet expectations that lead to disappointment with God. If we are honest, we will admit that we expect God to insure that we have good health for ourselves and our family, physical provision, happiness, good relationships, and an absence of trials and struggles. People often think that when they become a Christian, it means that God will make everything work out good for them. But it isn’t realistic. Being a believer is a walk of faith and trust. It is recognizing that you live in an imperfect world with problems in yourself and others. It is knowing that God hears your prayers even when he doesn’t answer them by fixing your circumstances. It is knowing that God responds to even a tiny mustard seed of faith, so it isn’t your weak faith. It is important to continue to do the footwork in all areas of your life but remember that doing your part doesn’t guarantee that others will do theirs or that circumstances will always work out like you want them to. Your life is affected by the reality of the world around you. Many believers in the world, past and present, had horrible circumstances in their lives. It is incorrect to assume that things will work out for us just because we are Christians. Don’t look at other people and assume that God cares more for them because things are better for them than you. God’s care is not measured in how well your life is working. When your expectations of God are accurate, you will be able to trust him both when times are good and times are bad, and when God feels real to you and when He feels distant rather than feeling disappointment with God. By Karla Downing

Relationship Devotional Prayer

 
God, Help me to have accurate expectations of you so that our relationship will not be affected by unnecessary disappointment.

Relationship Devotional Challenge

 
How have your inaccurate expectations of God led you to become disappointed with him?

Scripture Meditation

 
Proverbs 13:12 “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life” (NIV).

John 16:33 “You will have tribulation but be of good cheer because I have overcome the world” (NIV).