Session 7

What to do when Jesus leaves you disappointed

From What Happened During Holy Week: An 8-Day Devotional

Disappointment. That sinking feeling from the heart down to the gut that leaves our heads pounding. We’ve all experienced disappointment. But what do we do when the person we are disappointed with is God? 

Saturday must have been a dark day for those Jesus left behind. His disciples, family, and followers had just witnessed His death (Luke 23:49). Imagine the confusion and disappointment that lingered in the air. Did they miss something in His teaching? Was this how it all was supposed to end? 

To add injury to their grief, the Saturday was the Sabbath — a steadfast day of rest. Work was not permitted. Those left behind had nothing to distract them from the unanswered questions and deep hurt piercing their souls as they reflected on everything that transpired. 

If we’re not cautious, disappointment can lead to isolation, the perfect breeding ground for Satan’s lies. Don’t give him ground. While the enemy cannot read our minds, he can observe our actions and listen to our words. 

So what do we do with our disappointment? We do what Jesus’ friends and family were forced to do. We rest. Rest in the promise that God is working behind the scenes, in ways we cannot see or even comprehend yet. Rest in the fact that while darkness leaves us waiting and feeling lost, light always follows (Psalm 30:5). 

Light always shines brightest after a period of darkness. Jesus’ loved ones did not know as they waited that the resurrection was coming. Oh, what a picture of the joy that can follow disappointment!

Reflect:

• Have you ever experienced disappointment followed shortly by relief? What happened? What did you learn from that experience?
• When is the last time a period of darkness yielded a season of light? 
• What’s one promise you can take from that season into the next one?