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WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU’RE DISAPPOINTED WITH GOD (OR YOURSELF)
Kris Vallotton
June 1, 2017
I understand that this may not be the most fun topic to talk about, but I’ve never been one to shy away from hard conversations. Today I want to talk to you about the reality that sometimes our experiences in life don’t match up with the things we know to be true about God. How do we reconcile praying for someone to get healed, knowing God has empowered us to heal the sick, and seeing the person we’re praying for walk away not healed? Maybe it’s even more personal than that, because perhaps you’ve been praying for breakthrough in your business, but seen it fail instead? Or maybe you’ve been through a divorce or been fired from your job? It’s in these times that we can’t let our theology be defined by our experiences. God is good and He loves you. These things are true even in the hardest failures of our lives. But unfortunately, reciting truth doesn’t always help a heart that is hurt by disappointment. Check out this week’s Flashback Friday video for encouragement to work through disappointment, whether that be in God or in yourself, without become a cynic:
So I want to encourage you to be okay with wrestling with God, just as Jacob did. When hard things happen in life, don’t temper your enthusiasm or shrug off your desire for breakthrough. Let us be a people who persevere, continue to dream big dreams in the face of disappointment, who hope when things look hopeless, and who believe God for His redemption in bad situations! Past failures processed through the cross make us better people if we choose to learn from them! And redemption says that our mistakes are not the last chapter in the story of our lives!
If you’re in a situation that is marked by failure or disappointment, I want to encourage you to have an honest conversation with yourself and with the Lord today. Be real and open with Him, and ask Him to reveal what redemption is and will look like in your life. Have you ever had to wrestle with God? Or is this kind of thinking new for you? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Have you ever found yourself in the midst of life's chaos, desperately needing a break, clarity, and a spiritual reset? Picture it like halftime – that pivotal moment when the coach steps in, recalibrates the team, and sparks a turnaround. The game isn't over; this is a chance to come back stronger and claim victory! In recent weeks, a resounding message has been echoing in my heart and mind: January is the Church's halftime! Our divine Coach is calling us to the huddle, to draw close, and let Him fine-tune our game plan – our values, thoughts, and behaviors. Amid the noise, He's inviting us to step away, knowing that leaning into these divine moments will catapult us into the second half, ready for victory. And in this game, we already know the final score – He wins!
Gen Z, labeled as the seemingly lost generation to Christianity, and Gen Alpha, the digital natives immersed in screens, stand at the crossroads of an era defined by the rapid evolution of technology. As they navigate the evolving landscape of identity, both personal and global, a crucial question reverberates: "Has the Church lost this next generation?"
Have you ever grappled with the intersection of an unwavering belief in a supernatural God who releases healing from heaven and the pragmatic world of science and medicine? Perhaps you've found yourself standing at the crossroads, fervently praying for a miracle yet receiving healing through the hands of a compassionate doctor. It's a tension many face—the delicate dance of faith in God's miraculous power juxtaposed with the gift of modern medicine. What if there is no tension at all and there is actually a beautiful integration of faith and science?
