By Tanya Jolliffe
The spring always reminds me of track and field season. For six years, I spent many spring afternoons running around a track, jumping over hurdles or a bar. I was introduced to the sport in the spring of sixth grade and instantly fell in love with flipping backward over a bar.
While participating in three different sports in high school provided me with numerous successful experiences, they also brought disappointments. None were as big of a disappointment as being unable to continue track and field into college. I had “expected” to high jump my way to college. After setting multiple meet and school records and qualifying for the Ohio High School State Track and Field meet for all four of my high school years, I thought someone would want me for their college team. No such offers came, none, not one.
The offer I received was for a full-ride scholarship to play volleyball. God’s plan for my life was to play volleyball in college instead of high jumping. I cried the day I signed my letter of intent to play volleyball at the small college in Cincinnati because it didn’t have a track and field team. I wasn’t crying because I didn’t want to play volleyball. I was certainly thankful for the gift God had provided in the scholarship, but I was very disappointed that it meant the end of my high jumping career.
Disappointment is the emotion of sadness or feeling of distress, or melancholia related to unmet expectations, and that was what I felt. Disappointment is powerful, and when feelings of being unheard, unwanted, or unloved fester, they can lead to bitterness and a hardened heart toward others or God. If we aren’t careful, the enemy can use these emotions and feelings to lure us toward destructive behaviors since heartache is often at the root of poor decisions.
Difficult and disappointing experiences can test our maturity in Christ. That may be why we find direction related to these feelings in Proverbs 3:5-8. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
1 Peter 5:6-8 provides us more direction regarding keeping our feelings in check. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
When facing disappointment, we have two choices as we stand at a fork in the road. We can turn in the direction of our feelings and our understanding or turn toward Christ and the path He leads us on. Not staying back in our disappointment and giving in to our emotions and feelings allows us to remember that God knows us best. Seeing the situation from an eternal perspective reminds us that God works all things out for our good. Turning toward Him allows us to avoid behaviors that may not benefit us and will enable God to comfort us, strengthen us, and lead us in His life’s purpose.
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him” (Psalm 40:1-3).
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them” (Psalm 34:4-7).
Although I may not have met my expectations, God’s expectations and plan for my life certainly were met. As I look back and remember this experience, I am so glad that I trusted God with the direction of my life instead of insisting on my own because my college experience and all that came from it turned out way better than I could have ever scripted it. The next time you face disappointment, turn toward God and allow Him to lead the way toward His plans and purpose and see what great plan he has for you.
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