My perspective on dissappointment...

The Good Shepherd.

"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want."

He supplies what I need because He understands what I need

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

He provides opprotunity for rest and refreshment

3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

He leads me to what is good because that is His character

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

He knows there will be scarry times but my Shepherd cares for me enough to correct me along the way when I need it.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

He makes things good for me in before a watching world and takes care of my needs very specifically

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

He will never leave me and has a place prepared for me. Wherever I go He is there to back me up.

What does this have to do with dissappointment?

everything

I know you have been there. Someone has let you down. You didn't get the job you wanted. There are too many choices and all you wanted was direction. The plan you made was all for "not" and now they are a distant memory. The actions of others have distanced friendship(s). God is telling you to wait. You wake up to yet another day. The money you saved and worked hard for is not enough. You do not agree with your spouse. Have you come up with yours yet? In your mind are you thinking of that one thing (or several connected) that you could say "I'm dissappointed"?

Put yourself in the place of the lamb in Psalm 23 quoted above and Jesus as your shepherd. Walk through the passage in your mind again. I happen to love this scripture...it's comforting to read but do you notice that David (the man inspired by God to write this) did not go into specifics? what kind of green pasture...was it hilly or rocky? what kind of death overshadowed the lamb....was is announced/expected or not? what is the table for...and what did he prepare exactly?.....This scripture did not get into the details of these questions. Why? Do we need to know? I think there is a good reason for the way God wanted this written.

As you looked at the scripture with you and Jesus in mind be aware that the lamb is well taken care of. The lamb's needs are met by the Shepherd....oh, that is so important. The Shepherd knows the lamb and meets the needs specifically like with the oil. This lamb (you) are well taken care of...your needs are met and you are satisfied! You have no want at all.....right? Be honest. Can you tell me you have no wants? I think not, we all do. So, then why does it say "I shall not want"? That is the crux of what I am getting at.

Not only does your Shepherd care for your specific needs .... He also knows them and plans for them so, that you realize you could have no want...all your needs are met in Him. So, ask yourself where does dissappointment come into play? I personally think it is a trap we set for ourselves or our enemy uses in us to create want...need...greed and basically our own agenda.

Here is a simple test...when you are dissappointed does that lead you into righteousness (righteous thoughts, actions, deeds)? Into right relationships (peaceable, faithful, joyful)? Into discussions with God (prayer)? If any of these are no we need to examine our hearts. God has promised and it is written in scripture that all our needs are met in Him. Put simply I believe that dissappointment is self seeking. It does not think of the other person more important than themselves and does/can lead to anger, bitterness, dissention. Where is the good fruit that we who love God are characterized by? For the past several months now I have been considering what to write about this subject and it's clear to me.

I need not be dissappointed in anyone or anything because I know "I shall have to want" because He gives me everything I need. I challange you to read this scripture each day this week and see what God says to you....for those things I desire I choose to give those to the Lord and cease striving, keeping in prayer and obedience. The Bible says to ask God for things and expect that your prayers have already been answered...that is because my dear friends that He is your good Sheperd :) Do you believe that enough to give up the dissappointments in your life?

Goodnight everyone...sweet dreams.

Dawn