Disappointment

Mrs. Calder sent this from her Christmas devotional. It applies for me today because today is payday and I was going to do most of my Christmas shopping from these paychecks, but Dad didn't get a commission check today. I thought he was going to get $6000 and he got his salary which was only $600. Nothing new, unfortunately, but it just makes everything a little more difficult.

Day 13-Disappointment

Matthew 1:20-21: But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

The news the angel brought Mary must have come as a shock. This same news that Mary shared with Joseph was for him, probably more of a disappointment. Your soon to be wife tells you she is pregnant. The joy of becoming a father some day is wrecked by the disappointing news that you're not the biological father of this coming child. The plans Joseph had in his head about how life was going to play out was vanquished.

Disappointing news to us may seem like an every day thing. For some of us. we simply wait for the next ball to drop. Has it ever occurred to you that there is no surprise news to God? In the same light, there is no such thing as disappointing news to God. He knew it was going to happen before it did and He had already figured out He was going to use the situation.

This Christmas, may the disappointing news you receive not break your spirit, but may it be something that strengthens your faith. Joseph was told by a dream that he was going to love and father the Messiah. God accomplished His very purpose through Joseph as the earthly father of Jesus. Whatever disappointing news we receive, we can trust that God has a purpose for it. Let us choose trust. See Romans 8:28 (will look that up).

ACTION POINT
Looking back, He has always been there. This Christmas take a moment and look back over your life at all the disappointing news you have received and see if you cannot find God's hand at work. The idea is not to dwell in the past but be reminded of God's faithfulness to you! Take some time this year to share with someone how God has been faithful to you in the midst of disappointing news. May this exercise also serve you during this season in case you receive disappointing news. God has been faithful and He isn't going to stop this year! Choose trust!

Romans 8:28 (I thought this was the verse): And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Personal note: This is a new word for me to consider in relation to what happened to you. Disappointed. Not disappointed in you-disappointed of what happened to you. Love you!