We all have hopes and dreams, along with the expectations of how we expect them to be fulfilled. The main problem is that many times our hopes and dreams do not progress nor are fulfilled in the way we expect. This leads to great disappointment.

Disappointment is a silent killer. It may not kill us physically, but when left unchecked, disappointment can stop us from living and moving forward into the plans and purposes that God has for us. We can end up imprisoned in a cell of our own making.

Many have stopped living the day their true love jilted them, leaving them at the altar or by some other means. The disappointment was too great, leading to unforgiveness and a life of bitterness that blocked them from ever giving or receiving love again.

Perhaps an illness or accident has dramatically changed your life, and all the hopes and dreams you had planned are now dashed. If you cannot get beyond the disappointment and reconcile yourself to accept that your life will now look different, the prison walls will soon be in place and that’s where you’ll die.

Sometimes great disappointment follows the loss of a promotion, business, job or position you’ve been looking forward to and working towards all your life. It may come as a result of your own failure or something that others have put upon you. These failed expectations can also bring your hopes and dreams crashing down around you.

Usually disappointment comes when things do not happen the way we expect or plan or want. We can become experts in devising the scenarios in which we expect things to play out. But many times our plans fall short because we cannot control other people or circumstances.

The Bible tells of two followers of Jesus who experienced great disappointment after His crucifixion and death. They had hoped that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, and expected Him to be the king who would rescue them from their oppressors.

Their disappointment caused them to walk away from their hopes and dreams. As they headed for Emmaus, discussing all that had happened three days ago, suddenly a stranger was walking along beside them. He entered into their conversation and began asking questions.

They told him what had transpired, even that the body of Jesus was now missing. Then the stranger began to share many things with these two disciples from the scriptures, the writings of Moses and the prophets, concerning Messiah.

As they neared the end of their journey, they invited the stranger to spend the night. They sat down to eat, and when the man took the bread, blessed and broke it, suddenly their eyes were opened and they recognized who the man was. It was the resurrected Jesus who had been walking with them all along!

We can learn a great lesson from this story. No matter what disappointment we may face, no matter how badly our hopes and dreams have been shattered, no matter how hurt, abandoned or disillusioned we may feel, Jesus will be right there walking beside us through it all.

As we let go of our disappointments, forgive others, and surrender our broken expectations to the Lord, He will help us to find healing and move forward with our lives into the new hopes, dreams and plans that God has for us.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 845-482-5300.