Facing the three Ds

“Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around.”Proverbs 13:12

Disappointment, discouragement, and down-heartedness… all are apart of life. All are a needed ingredient in God’s recipe towards maturity. Like sunshine and rain, snow or flowering spring flowers… change comes.

Environmental changes causes us to adjust, to rethink, and to pray.
Since we tend not to change on our own, God helps us out. After all he’s looking out for our best interest, even if we are not. He would rather us endure a season of unpleasantness to form in us lasting character.

Now, some good meaning or either immature Christians believe that we should always be happy, always be joyful, all smiles, and always be in good spirits. Well, that kind of thinking is a delusion, it’s a lie. Or maybe they’ve not faced failure, or seen a loved one racked in pain, or seen a parent melt away from the ravages of cancer.

Facing disappointment, discouragement, and down-heartedness gives us the tools to help others in their need. Facing some of the pains of life teaches us mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. In this season of giving… these are the greatest of gifts.

‘Father, thank you for trials and tests, for disappointment, and for failures. Thank you for sending these special events our way to change us, mold us, and create in us your lasting character. May we have a heart to encourage and lift up those who are enduring. They need a hearing ear, a tentative heart, and a friend who will remind them of your great purpose… your great plan in our lives.’