As the 2012 summer Olympics continues I cannot help but watch the faces and demeanor of those athletes who did not make it to the medal stand or made it but in the wrong position. I see some of them cry, I see some walk away to sit in a corner, others refuse to speak to anyone or to hear words of well done by their coaches or team mates. The bottom line is that these athletes are disappointed in themselves and in their performances. Well, some will quickly recover, for others the disappointment lingers and a few may even go into depression.
Have you ever been disappointed in yourself, other people, relationships or in some things?
What about you disappointing someone? I am sure many of you reading this are shaking your head in agreement. For the few of you saying no, I guess we need to talk.
What happens when we get disappointed or when we disappoint? Could it be that our trust was misplaced? So often we hear the phrases, “you truly let me down” or “I really let them down”
Psalm 146: 3 tells us: Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
David in this verse was letting us know that the greatest of men can fail us, they can go back on their word they can change their mind or perhaps even forget what they promised. Although Princes are wise and in position of authority, they are sons of Adam, subject to failure. Whether it is our parents, our pastor, or politicians, they cannot always live up to our expectations.
Psalm 118:8: It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. In this verse we are advised that it is better to take shelter or trust in the LORD, not man. Why, God is not man, He does not go back on His word. Not only should we not put our trust in man but we are also cautioned about leaning to our own understanding.
In other words what we think is right or the best may not be and we can meet disappointment if we try it our way. So when someone disappoints us or we disappoint ourselves, REFOCUS. I am not advocating that we do not live a life of excellence, and keeping our word, but just reminding us that God is the only person immune to disappointing and being disappointed.