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Pastor Kieran will be preaching on a 5 part series titled ‘Managing Your Emotions’ for the month of October and November 2007.

Young Adult Service 20th October 2007

Adapted from Sermon Notes
Series Part 1 - How to deal with disappointment in life

Disappointment is one emotion that we face regularly. The life of Moses illustrates 3 facts of life that we need to be prepared for.

1) Great Successes Can Be Followed By Failure

“Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter.” Exodus 15 v. 22-23

The Israelites were disappointed upon reaching Marah only to find bitter water.

What is the “Marah” in your life?

3 Sources of Disappointment
- Things disappoint us
- Events Disappoint us
- People Disappoint us

3 Reasons for Disappointment
- Unmet Expectations
- Unpleasant Experiences
- Unfulfilled Desire

Pastor Kieran focused in to talk about people as one source of disappointment. One saying that I have learned from my mum is “Don’t place your hope on people, be it pastors, leaders, layman, anyone for men will surely fail and disappoint you. But place your hope on God who will never fail or disappoint you.” I hold this principle in my life, very true indeed as it speaks. I have faced disappointment and hurts from people especially those closest to me over time.

Why does God lead us to “Marah’s” in our life? Vs. 24-25

“Then the people turned against Moses..so Moses cried out to the Lord..and there the Lord tested them of their faithfulness to Him”
God allows disappointments in our lives to test if we remain faithful in Him.

Don’t keep thinking about your hurts or disappointments as it will lead to resentment and bitterness. Rather give thanks in all circumstances - 1st Thess 5:17

2) Great Services Can be Followed By Great Forgetfulness
“So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” V24

What Not To Do With Disappointment
a. Don’t Curse it! Don’t strike back when you are disappointed with someone.

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse!” Romans 12:14
Sometimes after being disappointed with someone, we may feel like flaring up our anger on that person making him feel like he’s a failure/guilty/useless. We may feel angry but don’t keep your anger when the sun goes down as it is written or anger will give a foothold to the devil.

Yet many a times we forget the good things that the person could have done for us before. Like our parents, cell leaders, friends. I have come to acknowledge that even though at times my parents may irritate me but after all they brought me up through all these years. All the years of feeding, disciplining, taking care of isn’t easy at all. Honestly I feel being a cell leader isn’t easy at all than I used to think it was. I asked my cell mate once before, and he said it’s a duty of a cell leader to take care of his flock. True enough but it’s just sad that a lot of times the efforts of hard labor put into the plow isn’t much appreciated. Thank God there’s another promise of the bible..

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” - Gal 6:9-10

When people hurt you, don’t curse it, don’t seek to hurt the person back.

b. Don’t Rehearse it
“He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” - Prov 17:9

c. Don’t Nurse it
Each time we dwell our thoughts on the hurt, we are nursing it into bitterness and angrier we become.

“Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Eph 4:26-27

“Get rid of all bitterness…anger, and slander, along with every form of malice.” Eph 4:31

What To Do With Disappointment

a. You Disperse it
“Then Moses cried out to the Lord…” Exo 15:25

Moses was hurt and criticized by his people often but he did not gossip about them to anybody not even to Joshua.

How to disperse it? “Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7

b. Let God Reverse It -> the disappointment
Joseph said, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Gen v27

A child may be abused since young, does God approve it? No. Does God allow it? Well if he didn’t it wouldn’t happen
Likewise for disappointments. God has a greater plan beyond these obstacles.

3) Great Shortages Can Be Followed by Great Fullness
“Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees and they camped there near the water.” V27

The passage above did not say God brought them to Elim! But they came to Elim. They kept on going and persevering.

How far is Elim from Marah?
Not far..

How do you get from Marah to Elim?
Keep going, keep trusting God.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Rom 8:28

Conclusion:

1) When I am discouraged or disappointed, don’t wallow in self pity but cry it out to the Lord.
2) Don’t give up and die in the desert. Keep at it!

Filed under: Sermons on October 21st, 2007