We all face disappointments, setbacks and tragedies. Life is not always easy or pleasant. How do you deal with unpleasant situations?

Disappointments are not exactly encouraging. They can in fact be just the opposite: discouraging. Usually a disappointment is when something did not go the way we planned or hoped it would.

If something doesn’t go the way we wanted it to and it is a result of choices we made, we can certainly learn from it. We can determine to make better choices in the future. However, if a disappointment is the result of something outside of our control, then what can we do?

We could waste a lot of time playing the blame game. But what good does that do? When something outside of our control brings disappointment, we need to just take a breath and move on.

Roadblock Ahead

There are times when disappointment brings a real obstacle or roadblock into our lives, and we are faced with a setback. So now what do we do? If it is something caused by something we have no control over, then again, we can’t waste our time and energy blaming others.

We can’t always control what happens to us. But we can control how we react to it; we control what happens in us. John Maxwell once said, “Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.”

Solutions

When I am faced with disappointments and setbacks, I try to look for solutions so my life can move forward. Firstly, I believe the Bible is true, so I pray, asking for God’s help and direction. I then look for possibilities. I look for what action I can take.

In following that course, I do my best to keep my emotions out of my decision process. If I allow myself to be angry because someone else’s actions caused me a setback, I place my decisions in jeopardy. I also lose my peace of mind and put God out of the picture, or at best I’m inattentive to His direction.

I know this is sometimes easier said than done. Small disappointments and small obstacles are much easier to deal with than big disappointments and big obstacles. Ask anyone who has ever been laid off, been in car accident, or whose spouse wants a divorce.

How Big?

But regardless of the magnitude of the circumstances or situations we face, nothing is ever too big or too hard for our God. We can be confident that after asking for His help, He will never, ever say, “Wow! That is really a mess and it’s way too hard and complicated for me. Sorry.” We might feel overwhelmed at times, but God is still Almighty and there is nothing too hard for Him.

We may find ourselves in situations where there is simply no simple solution to fix things in one day or two. And so, like many great folks you read about in the Bible, we stay the course, one day at a time, trusting God. Moses did it. Joshua did it. Abraham did it. Paul did it. Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, David and many others faced disappointments with huge setbacks and roadblocks. But God gave them all the victory.

It is not easy going through difficult times. And no one really knows just how hard it is for you and just how much you hurt. No one, that is, except for God. Put your complete trust in Him and take life a day at a time, and sometimes, an hour at a time, knowing He will bring you the victory.

Tragedy

And then there are times in life when we are faced with tragedy. Usually this is the death of a loved one, but it can also be the hurt we feel when something really awful happens to someone we know and love. In my life, the feelings of hurt and loss are about the same in either case.

When someone we know and love dies, we feel grief, which is a natural process God gave us that helps to release the pain. We feel the loss; we feel pain; we cannot be with that person anymore. But, we also know we will see them again when Christ returns, an absolutely undeniable hope which encourages and comforts.

But when something else really awful happens to someone we know and love, whether it’s through consequences of their choices, or from things outside of their control, we feel grief, too. If someone gets badly hurt physically, or is fighting a disease, our hearts are hurt for what they are going through. We can certainly love them and pray for them.

The same is also true if someone who once believed, decides to live their life contrary to God’s Word. Depending on how close to that person you are, there can be great grief and pain. And although we can still choose to love them and pray for them, they too have free will to make their own choices.

In those tragic situations, we may feel helpless. Once again, we go to our heavenly Father, asking Him to heal our broken heart. We ask Him for wisdom, ask if there is anything we can for that person. And thirdly, we can choose to love them, and pray for them.

The Bottom Line

In your life and in mine, there will be times we face disappointments, setbacks, and tragedies. There are highs and lows; good times and challenging times. It is part of this life we are living now. But why do these happen?

Undeniably, there is evil in the world we live in. Yes, we wholeheartedly look forward to the day when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, will return. But that day hasn’t arrived yet; we are still living in this world.

I taught recently that becoming a born again Christian does not mean you are immune from the devices, methods and schemes of the adversary, the god of this world. Very few people today recognize the source of all the evil in this world.

At times, through consequences of our own choices or things outside of our control, we can be afflicted. Regardless, the One true God gives us specific instructions on how to overcome and live victoriously in this life, in spite of afflictions.

We all face circumstances and situations, some much harder to deal with than others. But God has promised us wisdom, help and deliverance. As we continue to put our absolute and complete trust in Him, He will be kind and gracious to help and deliver us, from any and all situations we face.

Mike Verdicchio
2013

Don’t Be Shy – Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this? We’d love to hear what you think. Just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment. (If you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and then scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment.)

You Might Also Enjoy:
Does God Want You To Suffer? (Podcast)
God Is Not In Charge (Podcast)

Share This!
Do you want to share this on your website or Blog? To share on social media, like Facebook or Twitter, there are buttons below.

There’s More!
For past articles, click on the, “Posts” tab above. For past videos and podcasts, mouse over the “Posts” tab above. Look for more videos as well as more podcasts coming soon to Confidence And Joy!

Follow Me On Twitter!