Habakkuk 3:17-19 17 For though the fig-tree shall not flourish, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labor of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no food; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in Jehovah, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength; And he maketh my feet like hinds' `feet', And will make me to walk upon my high places.

After I preached a sermon on disappointment, several men and women approached me with the same reaction: “I desperately needed to hear those words.” Many people feel defeated and let down by their circumstances. But the way a person responds can make all the difference. Frustrations can be either an opportunity for spiritual growth or a destructive blow.

A right response to disappointment begins with resisting the natural tendency toward bitterness. If someone else was involved in the situation, don’t be quick to judge his or her conduct. We can’t fully understand what is going on in others’ lives or what motivates them to act as they do. Our second step should be to ask the Lord, “How am I to respond?” God can guide us to a wise and righteous reaction because He has all the facts.

Third, follow His directions, even if they aren’t what you want to do. Oftentimes the Lord’s way contradicts our own desires and the advice of friends. However, His plan is the one that will bring about growth and result in our greatest good.

And fourth, keep your focus on God and His higher purpose in your life. People are prone to dwell on their hurts and the harm that comes to them, which is what makes disappointment so destructive.

There are many methods for dealing with being let down, but pursuing the Lord’s will is the only one that satisfies. Though human plans can be derailed, nothing alters God’s purpose. No matter how deep your hurt goes, He will shepherd you through setbacks and sorrows while growing your faith.

Bible in One Year: Job 35-38 Chapter 35 1 Moreover Elihu answered and said, 2 Thinkest thou this to be `thy' right, `Or' sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God's, 3 That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? `And', What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned? 4 I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee. 5 Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou. 6 If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand? 8 Thy wickedness `may hurt' a man as thou art; And thy righteousness `may profit' a son of man. 9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty. 10 But none saith, Where is God my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night, 11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens? 12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, Because of the pride of evil men. 13 Surely God will not hear an empty `cry', Neither will the Almighty regard it. 14 How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him! 15 But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance; 16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge. Chapter 36 1 Elihu also proceeded, and said, 2 Suffer me a little, and I will show thee; For I have yet somewhat to say on God's behalf. 3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4 For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding. 6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted `their' right. 7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted. 8 And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions; 9 Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly. 10 He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11 If they hearken and serve `him', They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. 12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge. 13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them. 14 They die in youth, And their life `perisheth' among the unclean. 15 He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression. 16 Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness. 17 But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold `on thee'. 18 For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside. 19 Will thy cry avail, `that thou be' not in distress, Or all the forces of `thy' strength? 20 Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place. 21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. 22 Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him? 23 Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness? 24 Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung. 25 All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off. 26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable. 27 For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor, 28 Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly. 29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion? 30 Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea. 31 For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance. 32 He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark. 33 The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning `the storm' that cometh up. Chapter 37 1 Yea, at this my heart trembleth, And is moved out of its place. 2 Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, And the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 3 He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And his lightening unto the ends of the earth. 4 After it a voice roareth; He thundereth with the voice of his majesty; And he restraineth not `the lightnings' when his voice is heard. 5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 6 For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain. 7 He sealeth up the hand of every man, That all men whom he hath made may know `it'. 8 Then the beasts go into coverts, And remain in their dens. 9 Out of the chamber `of the south' cometh the storm, And cold out of the north. 10 By the breath of God ice is given; And the breadth of the waters is straitened. 11 Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning: 12 And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world, 13 Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come. 14 Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Dost thou know how God layeth `his charge' upon them, And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine? 16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge? 17 How thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south `wind'? 18 Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror? 19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; `For' we cannot set `our speech' in order by reason of darkness. 20 Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up? 21 And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies; But the wind passeth, and cleareth them. 22 Out of the north cometh golden splendor: God hath upon him terrible majesty. 23 `Touching' the Almighty, we cannot find him out He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict. 24 Men do therefore fear him: He regardeth not any that are wise of heart. Chapter 38 1 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or `who' shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, `as if' it had issued out of the womb; 9 When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it, 10 And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed? 12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days `began', `And' caused the dayspring to know its place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it? 14 It is changed as clay under the seal; And `all things' stand forth as a garment: 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken. 16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death? 18 Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all. 19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof? 21 `Doubtless', thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great! 22 Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war? 24 By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth? 25 Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder; 26 To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27 To satisfy the waste and desolate `ground', And to cause the tender grass to spring forth? 28 Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30 The waters hide themselves `and become' like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen. 31 Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train? 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth? 34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee? 35 Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are? 36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind? 37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, 38 When the dust runneth into a mass, And the clods cleave fast together? 39 Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they couch in their dens, `And' abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41 Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, `And' wander for lack of food?