Hope on hold
Learning to live with disappointment and how to trust God in the process
Disappointment is an unavoidable part of life, a common narrative that runs through every human experience. There are seasons where our deepest desires, prayers, and hopes seem endlessly deferred, leaving us questioning the purpose of it all.
Whether it’s a delayed career breakthrough, a long-awaited relationship that hasn't materialised, or an illness that lingers longer than expected, we often find ourselves struggling to reconcile our circumstances with our faith in God.
So how do we live with disappointment? More importantly, how do we trust God in the midst of it?
When Hope Feels Deferred
The Bible acknowledges the pain of deferred hope in Proverbs 13
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."
Our hearts can feel weighed down, discouraged, or even abandoned when hope is deferred. The ache of waiting for something long desired can leave us questioning.
But He is not indifferent to our pain. He is not slow in keeping His promises but rather, He works within His perfect timing. Learning to trust His timing when the days of waiting seem to stretch endlessly is the journey of faith, and it often challenges our understanding of who He is and what He has planned for us.
Living with Disappointment
Disappointment can become a breeding ground for frustration, doubt, and even bitterness. It’s key to acknowledge the pain. Ignoring disappointment or suppressing your emotions doesn’t make them disappear; in fact, they often resurface in more destructive ways. Bringing your pain before God in prayer is necessary for maintaining your trust in God.
The Psalms are filled with examples of this—David poured out his heart to God, expressing frustration, fear, and grief, but always returning to a place of trust and praise.
While we may not always understand the reasons for our disappointments, we can shift our perspective by focusing on what God is doing through the waiting. The delay of our desires is often a space where God works on our character, teaching us patience, endurance, and a deeper reliance on Him.
Much of the frustration that comes with deferred hope is tied to our desire for control. We want our lives to unfold according to our own plans and timelines. However, God asks us to trust His sovereignty, even when we don’t understand. Surrendering control is an act of faith.
Trusting God in the Process
Trusting God is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment. It requires a conscious choice to believe that God is good, even when circumstances are not.
Stay close to His promises. The Word of God is filled with promises that remind us of His faithfulness, love, and plans for our lives. When our hope feels deferred, we must anchor ourselves in these promises.
Grow a Spirit of Gratitude In times of waiting and disappointment, it’s easy to focus on what we lack. However, cultivating a spirit of gratitude helps to shift our focus from what we don't have to what God has already provided. Thanking God for His blessings, even in the midst of waiting, allows us to see His hand at work in our lives. Gratitude fosters contentment.
Do not isolate. Surround yourself with people who can encourage, pray with, and remind you of God's faithfulness, and keep moving forward. While waiting on God’s timing, it’s easy to become stagnant, believing that nothing will change. However, trusting God in the process involves putting your faith into action. Keep pursuing your goals, remain diligent to what He has placed in your hands in this season, and continue to nurture your relationship with God. Trusting Him doesn’t mean doing nothing—it means faithfully moving forward and believing that He is guiding every step.
If this is the season you are in, I hope this has helped, and I would encourage you to read through the Bible scriptures below that have inspired the thoughts above.
Proverbs 13:12
2 Peter 3v9
Psalm 13
Romans 5:3-4
Proverbs 3:5-6
Jeremiah 29:11
Romans 8:28
Hebrews 10:25