When you are disappointed, see the big picture.
Table of Contents
We were supposed to be on a trip out west last week, but that didn’t happen because of a problem with our house that had to be addressed. I am disappointed, but I am reminded that God sees the big picture. It’s so easy to get caught up in our disappointment and focus on the details. But God sees the whole story, and He knows what He’s doing.
We had booked the hotel rooms at the higher prices to guarantee we could cancel. Thank goodness. We had lots of fun treats for the long car ride, books on CDs to listen to, etc. I hadn’t put anything in the suitcase yet, but I had it all ready. The good news is that I tried on a lot of my clothes, and lots of them didn’t make the “cut,” if you know what I mean. So that’s good anyway.
My husband and I are disappointed but we’ve done a lot of traveling anyway, and frankly, when we’ve seen what some of our friends have gone through recently, we absolutely refuse to be too upset about it. Yesterday, I wrote about words and how we should talk to ourselves more kindly. Word choices really make a difference in times like this.
But to say we aren’t disappointed would be to deny reality. We know there is a bigger picture than we can see. God understands disappointment, and it’s okay to say we are.
We can trust God for the big picture.
When I was sixteen, I entered a Bible memory verse contest. I memorized 100 verses.. It really wasn’t that hard. The first one I memorized was Proverbs 3:5-6.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
The second? “There is no temptation (adversity: Strong’s concordance #G3985) that has overtaken you but such as is common to everyone. God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape, so that you can endure it.”
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve quoted these verses to myself over the years. Trials and tests, as James stated in his book, are meant to increase and strengthen our faith. But that doesn’t mean we have to like them, and it certainly doesn’t mean we have to use words that deny reality.
Two things can be true at same time
Using correct words, though, doesn’t mean we ignore uplifting ones. Two things can be true at the same time. We can be disappointed and grateful for our blessings at the same time. ‘But’ is a good word and doesn’t always negate prior words. For example, ‘We are disappointed we couldn’t go on our trip, but taking care of our house is more important. There will be other trips.’
Some might see the above as ignoring our feelings. It absolutely isn’t. We admit we are sad about canceling but know it’s not the end of the world. We allowed ourselves to feel bad for a few hours and then had a talk with ourselves as David does in Psalm 42:5 and decided, as did David, to praise God.
Call to Action
Being honest with ourselves and using honest words is crucial to our overall well-being, physically, emotionally, and certainly spiritually. Try and see the big picture when you choose words and use them accordingly. Practice it this week. Practice using honest but uplifting words. Strangely enough, it’s not as easy as it sounds. I’ve been working on it myself this week as a number of concerns and issues (not just the house) weigh heavy on me. I’m learning just like you.
Until next week, God bless each of you.
Latest Posts
Oh, my another easy DIY for you. You’ll want to read this.
This little DIY tray was a last-minute project for someone. I was getting ready to donate it to Goodwill when I thought, hmmm, maybe I could paint a beach scene for her. Of course, I had no idea it was…
Easy DIY Project: refurbishing a picture with a marker
Good morning, everyone. Here’s a fun DIY I snuck in between marathon writing sessions. Busy writing but sneaking in a DIY I’ve been busy writing all week, spending hours at the computer. I’m happy with the rewrites and new covers,…
Chosing our words wisely for better health
Yesterday, I wrote about the importance of using kinder words when we speak to ourselves. But that doesn’t mean we ignore reality or try to pull the wool over someone’s eyes. Kind words should still be honest words. Don’t Be…
I would love to hear your thoughts. Don't make be beg.