Infinite Hope

“We must all accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.”
(Attributed to the late Rev. M. L. King, Jr.)

Some people mistakenly believe that Christians should never accept disappointment—that wealth and health in this life are promised for believers, and bad times are for unbelievers. To believe this flies in the face of Scripture and leads to frustration and guilt. Experience teaches us that bad things happen to good people and that some very wicked people seem to be among the most successful people on earth. The Bible teaches that while pain and sorrow are part of life, God offers hope to the faithful. And best of all, every disappointment will disappear some day when we see Jesus. For now, however, I will sing, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name …On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

Heavenly Father, this has been a week when disappointment won out over blessing. Please accept my disappointment as a tribute of worship to your infinite grace. I am not complaining, but I would rather be rejoicing. Good news has come from several different sources this week, but they were someone else’s good news. I thank you in their behalf. While I know I must accept the bad with the good, I had hoped that the scales this week would tip more in my favor. But I will not give up; I will not complain. I will continue praying until I more clearly see Your Hand in the events of my life. Help me to hold on to hope, even in the face of disappointment. Amen.