Those words are a quote from the late pastor A.T. Pierson. I ran across this quote while preparing a message from 2 Samuel 7 where David greatly desires to build the temple but God tells him he isn’t going to get to do it. So how did David respond? Undoubtedly, he was disappointed, but David helped prepare the way for someone else (his son) to do what he wanted to do. David took his disappointment and viewed it as an appointment to faithfulness even when it was not what he wanted. This application reminded me of a key verse from Proverbs…
“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9, ESV)
In more than 30 years as a pastor, I don’t believe I have ever talked to anyone who told me their life had unfolded just the way they planned. I have talked with hundreds of people who said things like “I never dreamed….” or “I thought it was all over after….” before sharing how the Lord has been faithful to them. We make our plans, but the Lord guides our steps. He takes us places we never envisioned going. Sometimes those places are great and positive. Sometimes those places are hard and long. Sometimes we don’t get our way. Sometimes our plans get wrecked. Sometimes the Lord has us walk through disappointment.
How do we respond when our plans are wrecked? View our disappointments as God’s appointments to faithfulness where we are.
This past Sunday morning, I used the A.T. Pierson quote in my sermon and made this statement: “Whatever we are disappointed about in our lives just feels a little worse at Christmas.” After the services, a number of people talked with me, affirming the truth of that statement. I challenged our church family to view our personal disappointments as God’s appointments to faithfulness and “flip the script” this Christmas.
Many of us are carrying the heavy burdens of disappointments. They take many forms. Sometimes our disappointments come packaged in dreams that didn’t come true. Sometimes our disappointments come packaged in brutal tragedies or events we would have never chosen. Sometimes our disappointments come packaged in poor choices that we made. Sometimes our disappointments come packaged in poor choices that others made.
Think of a particularly painful disappointment you are feeling. What if you viewed it as God’s appointment to faithfulness where you are right now? Acknowledge the hurt and disappointment, but don’t live there indefinitely. Choose hope. Choose joy. Choose obedience. Choose faithfulness.
Your disappointment truly is God’s appointment.
Be encouraged in Jesus!
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