He Will Not Disappoint

"He will not disappoint you. It is not in His character to disappoint.

He will keep faith with you…."

This was a message from our family friend to me in response to my blog post - Cartwheels of Joy. He did not know the circumstances under which I wrote that article but the message was apposite. It was timely too.

It got me thinking. Do I know God for Who He really is? If yes, then I will know that

there are some things that God will simply NOT do.

It is not in His character neither is it an attribute of God to disappoint.

• He will not fail.
• He will not forsake or abandon.
• He will not let me fall.
• He will not let me down.
• He will not leave me alone.
• He will not lie.
• He will not go back on His promises. 

What does it mean to disappoint?

It means to fail to fulfil or satisfy the hopes, desires and expectations of someone.

- To prevent  hopes and expectations from being realized.

- To thwart or frustrate. To let down, forsake or abandon.

Disappointment is what the weary traveller in a sandy desert feels when he finds that the beautiful lake he saw from afar, for which he sought earnestly, is just an illusion—a mirage.

Disappointment is like a stream that runs dry at summer time or a spring that fails when most needed—hope is dashed, expectation is cut off and dreams are thwarted.

Well meaning friends and even close family members can disappoint us. Life can disappoint us when it is filled with challenges, trials and sorrow. We also in all our best intentions can disappoint others. People and circumstance can disappoint.

For 21 days, I was in the hospital fighting an infection with every possible intervention—an intense course of treatment and therapy. It was a rigorous schedule. At the end of it, we did not get the resolution we desired and waited expectantly for. I was disappointed.

For 21 days, we tried to unravel a knotty issue. One investigation after another, from one specialist unit to another. Some quite distressing. At the end of it, we did not get the clear answer we wanted. We still have to wait some more for the information needed to define the next steps. I was disappointed.

For a moment I wondered, how much more of this—

How much more can one person take?

Disappointment can lead to despair if hope is not anchored on a Solid Rock.

But we know from the Bible that God satisfies the longing soul (Ps 107:9). He fulfils the desires of those who fear Him (Ps145:19). There is surely a hope for us and our expectation shall not be cut off (Prov. 23:18).

And Romans 5:5 tells us that we have a hope that does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by His Holy Spirit whom He has given us.

"This hope will not lead to disappointment, for we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us His Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with love" - NLT

It thrilled my heart and filled me with joy to have this understanding of the character of my God and Father upon Whom my hope is anchored.

If I focus on the disappointment, I would loose sight of the many blessings and mercies God poured on me during the past 3 weeks and His miraculous interventions on my behalf.

I am amazed at the grace God has given unto me.

I am overwhelmed at the peace with which He held my heart against every agitating fear even when the storm was fiercest.

I am stunned at the joy He filled my heart with which caused me to sing aloud almost everyday in my hospital room to the amazement of the hospital staff and neighbouring patients.

In spite of all that was going on around me, God made me an amazement to all with the stability with which He anchored my heart. He strengthened my heart. He gave me the strength to endure. Ps 27:14 says, "Wait on the Lord, He will strengthen your heart…" I can testify that He did just that for me.

We can go through trials, afflictions and difficult times with strength that is not our own, because we have the spirit of God inside of us and God in us is strengthening us.

The Christian hope is such that will be fulfilled. It will not disappoint. We are sustained in our trials and afflictions by the consciousness of the super abundant love of God poured out into our hearts under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Our hope is founded on the goodness and truth of God, therefore our expectation can not be cut off.

Like Job, we will not understand the whole picture or the plans God has for us but we know that he was able to maintain an eternal perspective. He maintained his integrity and faithfulness to God in spite of his great afflictions. He expressed an absolute confidence that God will vindicate him and he was not disappointed in this hope.

I can then ask myself this question:

Am I able to separate the physical reality of my life from the spiritual reality of my relationship with God?

To the extent that I can say with unswerving confidence that no matter what comes my way, my life is in God's hands and come what may happen to me physically, I know that God will not disappoint me.

I know God will not leave us alone in our struggles. I know He will always be with us in the difficulties and disappointments of life. In Christ, the battle is won and we have the victory.

As I focus on this attribute and character of God, I can call my soul to be still and know that He is God Who will not disappoint.

When the oceans rise and thunders roar

I will soar with You above the storm

Father, You are King above the flood

I will be still and know You are God.

(Still by Hillsong)

I can then joyfully sing:

With this breath You have given me

I will praise Your Holy name

As long as I have this breath

I will sing of Your love

I will sing of Your faithfulness

As long as I have this breath

I will sing Your praise

And when this breath is gone

I will join the saints in glory

To sing Your praise

Forever and ever more.

©Irene Olumese

I encourage you, dear friend, to rest on this infallible character of God.