Life can be dotted with, and on occasion dominated by, disappointments. Disappointments sometimes define people. Disappointments aren’t all bad for if someone is never disappointed, they probably aren’t striving for anything or expecting anything in life.
Since as Christians, we pray about life, when life is disappointing, we can become disappointed with God. We’re perturbed that He didn’t answer our prayers the way we hoped. We get disappointed because God didn’t meet an expectation.
Job 37:13 helps us understand how God works and why He answers the prayers of sincere servants the way He does. Through Elihu, the one faithful spokesman for God to Job, God says “Whether for correction or for His world or for His lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.” God causes things to go certain ways in our lives for three reasons, this verse says:
1. “For correction” – to correct sin or immaturity in our lives; to make us more like Christ; or, to get us on a correct course in life.
2. “For His world” – the Hebrew word means “inhabited world.” God is constantly doing things for people in the world, for His plan in the world, for His purposes in individuals outside our little world. He may say “no” to our prayers, with the consequence of our disappointment, because He’s doing so many other things for greater purposes. And He’s not obligated to tell us all about His plans!
3. “For lovingkindness” – sometimes, He does say “yes” to our prayers. He bless us; He shows us, as His children, His great lovingkindness. In His love and goodness, sometimes He meets or exceeds our hopeful expectation.
Knowing that God works in these ways makes us trust Him. It gives us security in life. We may face disappointments in life but we don’t have to be disappointed with God. For He has told us how He works and assures us that He will always work everything together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
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