How To Face Disappointment Without Losing Your Sparkle
A few weeks ago, I saw something really exciting pop up in my notifications from my favorite website. They were searching for 5 new contributors for their writing team. As soon as I finished doing the happy dance, I quickly filled out the application and took a deep breath before hitting send. As a writer, this was an incredible opportunity and I wanted this really, really badly.
I’ve been blogging for almost 8 years now and have loved being a part of this unique community of writers. God put this passion in my heart to blog and sometimes I have no idea what I’m doing or why I wake up every morning excited to blog. It drives me and challenges me and baffles me all at the same time. I love blogging! I love bloggers! I’ve watched friends grow their blogs to massive audiences and have encouraged new bloggers as they start their journey.
The best gift you can give a blogger is to read and connect, engage and leave comments, and share and like our posts. That’s why we blog. It’s disappointing when we pour out our heart, time, and effort into a post and it falls flat with readers. But, that’s part of the craziness of blogging.
Y’all, I didn’t make the cut. My initial feelings when I received the email March 28th, was disappointment and failure and tears. (yep, I’ll admit it) I appreciated knowing they prayed over every, single application. 475 brave women applied to (in)courage for the five new voices we were hoping to add and they prayerfully chose 9! Congratulations to all the new writers!
We face disappointment every day. That’s a part of living life out-loud. When we say yes to God, we are called to be strong, and courageous and fearless. But, how do we face disappointment without falling into jealousy, unfulfillment, or feelings of failure?
Circumstances are the opportunity for our heart to show itself. -William Barcley.
Here are 5 ways to face disappointment without losing your sparkle:
- Look to Jesus for our fulfillment. There is nothing on earth more fulfilling than our relationship with Jesus. If we plug into people, places, or things, we will aways come up empty. My sparkle can only come from Jesus, the true joy-giver.
- Thank God for your disappointment. You may not feel like it, but we need to say, “Thank you, God.” Who knows us better in life than our Savior? He wants us to bring everything to Him, our joys, our requests, our fears, our dreams, our disappointments. Jesus knows exactly what I am going through.
- Being content with God’s plan. Do you believe God has a plan for your life? God takes our disappointment and turns it into something good. He will give us the grace to face it and His plans are always perfect. Taking the time to list all the things God has given us, helps us to be grateful as we are reminded that He will be faithful to provide in the future. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
- Guard your heart. If we don’t guard our heart when we face a disappointment, we can find ourselves falling into a dark place. There is nothing more Satan enjoys then robbing Jesus followers of their sparkle. He will use anger, jealously, discontent, bitterness, unfulfillment to overwhelm our hearts. That’s a sure way our joy in the midst of our pain.
- God is in control. Sometimes God wants to take us out of our comfort zone and re-direct our plans. We think we know what’s best, but ultimately God is in control. It’s up to us how we want to respond. The pressure is off!
Beautiful daughter!!
Why do I cry every time I read your blogs or articles? 🙁 You are such a great writer and I wish that I had your talent.
I know that you have seen this in me for over 45 years, I never give up on a dream that I believe God has given me. It doesn’t matter how many times I’m disappointed.
Now that I’ve reached almost 74 years, it’s even more fun and exciting to watch God open doors for the dreams that I have in serving marriages and families. Over the past few days, God has given me one giant answer to what I’ve been “crying out to Him” for over three years. It all came together this past week and now I’m super motivated to jump into this new ministry of writing a new book called, “My Healthy Family!!” You hubby opened this door. Love, Dad
Dad, thanks for reading my blog (you have for 8 years!) and my loudest cheerleader! I write because you made me believe I could! Thank you for always pointing me to prayer! You have taught me that for the past 47 years! I love you and appreciate you never giving up on reminding me to dream big and pray even bigger! Your Daughter
Oh Kari, I’m so sorry! The transparency you show in sharing your disappointment is a blessing. We can’t help but be flesh; we are!! Even Jesus got frustrated (“how long must I put up with you”…) and sad (“Jesus wept”). I think we feel the need to float above disappointment or believe we should not feel it if we truly are followers of Christ, as we KNOW God is in charge and He works all things together for the good. This truth, as you shared, is what lifts us out of our sadness and disappointment. It may not be the way we want or hope for, but it is always best and we can keep our hope alive in THAT, knowing that INDEED He IS working all things together for the good!! As we do the start up of Something Beautiful Ethiopia I wrestle with some of these same feelings. I need to let my will die and accept it is ALL HIS and WHATEVER He calls me to do, I must do it to His glory leaving the results to Him, disappointing or not, HE IS SOVEREIGN! Whew, what a relief!
This was a “no” for you, but not necessarily a “never” just a “not now”. 🙂 Many blessings and bring on the JOY 🙂 (and thanks again for sharing!) 🙂
Thank you so much Darlene for your cheers & understanding! I’m constantly battling how I want to respond in difficulties and disappointments (they seem to sneak up all the time) but the things God has done for me weigh far above the “no’s” like you said! He has been so faithful and constant in my life! Thank you for sharing (a blogger’s favorite thing:) and praying for Something Beautiful Ethiopia to be a huge blessing! Please stop by here on Fridays-weekend and post your links & projects! It’s your personal shout-out! xoxo
Wow! How grateful I am to have stumbled into your blog. Yesterday, I learned that I did not get a teaching position I desperately wanted. I love the school, the teachers and the scholars. My heart is broken. My husband is out of town so I didn’t have a shoulder to cry on (not true, I did get my dogs’ shoulders wet). I truly believe that all things happen for a reason and I am grateful for all my blessings. In fact, I keep singing, “this little light of mine, I’m going to let in shine…” in my snuffling, trying not to cry, voice. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is THANK YOU! I needed to read this today. I am grateful.