In this season I find myself in, I often feel as if God has let me down. Sometimes it feels like He isn’t doing anything. Though I know in my heart of hearts that God is my loving Heavenly Father who will never leave me or forsake me, my feelings don’t always line up with reality.
Sometimes life beats us up and leaves us feeling let down. Whether we are dealing with big things or little things, all of us feel this way from time to time.
We can never fully maintain control of our external circumstances. Bad things happen, and we can’t always avoid them – car trouble, accidents, illness, death, unemployment, disasters, and loss of all types and severities. Frustrations happen. Long lines, unhappy people, unexpected expenses and customer service calls where you can’t seem to get through to an actual human being. Sometimes it seems like we pray and pray for something and never see God move. So how do you surrender to God when it feels like He has let you down?
7 Things to remember when it feels like God let you down
- It’s okay to tell God how you feel. He can take it. If you are angry with Him, tell Him. If you feel let down, you should let Him know how you feel. He already knows your heart, but He desires to be in relationship with you. If you are angry with someone you love, you are going to tell them and fight it out. So do that with the one who loves you more than anyone else in the world. There is nothing you can say or do that will change His love for you, and you may just find that through your anger and disappointment He will be the one who comforts you.
- This life is not the end. Jesus said in John 16:22, “So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.” There will be a day when you will rejoice for all eternity. Our life here on earth is merely a breath in the scope of forever. Whatever trouble life throws at you is temporary; and as difficult as it may be now, you can look toward the perfection life will hold after Christ returns for His church (That is you!).
- God is working even when we can’t see it. God makes everything beautiful in His own time. He set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end (See Ecclesiastes 311) We can only see from our limited perspective. God sees everything from creation through forever. Consider how it must have felt for the disciples and all who believed Jesus when He said He was the Messiah who would rescue the Israelites and be their King. Then He was crucified. I’ll bet they felt let down from every point on the spectrum of disappointment as they saw their Lord on a cross. But they couldn’t see the whole picture. Jesus appeared to many people after He had been dead for days, and they were able to gain a glimpse of insight into Gods eternal plan. But they still couldn’t see the whole picture. Whatever you are struggling through and whatever disappointments you carry, know that God is working on the eternal picture, and He is doing something amazing – even for you. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28)
- God knows what is best for us. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine,” (Isaiah 55:8) We have these preconceived ideas that things should be one way or another. We like to think we know what is best. But the hard reality is that we don’t know what is best because only God knows what is best for our lives. He loves us enough to allow us to experience discomfort and struggles because they make us better and stronger and grow us closer to Him. When it feels like God has let you down, maybe He offered you an opportunity for future blessing that you may not even be able to see now. Maybe this struggle is exactly what you need to become a better you.
- God is setting the stage for your future. “I will go before you and make the rough places smooth,” (Isaiah 45:2) God is working behind the scenes. He has already made His way ahead of you and crafted everything to benefit you. Did you know that over 400 years passed between the old and new testament? The whole world heard silence from God; and for many it was a lifetime. But that didn’t mean God wasn’t doing anything. He was setting the political and religious stage for Jesus while opening new avenues of transportation and communication. But He did it in His time and His way – not ours.
- God is always Provider and Protector. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Psalms 23:4-5) No matter what you face or what comes your way, the Lord provides for and protects you. You may be challenged on every side, but God will give you what you need to overcome. When the world around you is falling apart, you can sit with the King and enjoy a spiritual meal in His presence any time you choose because the table is already prepared.
- Time heals. Wherever you are and whatever you are going through, allow time to pass while inviting Jesus into it. Whether you face tragedy, difficult life circumstances, illness, or loss of any kind, you have the opportunity to invite Jesus into your life and let Him Heal. His timetable is not ours, but it is good. Embrace Him through the struggle and find joy in His love.
