Remember that toy you wanted more than anything as a kid? Maybe you saw those commercials on TV that showed the only way any kid would be happy is if he or she was playing with that one toy. It could have been GI Joe, Barbie, or even that Nickelodeon stuff called Gak.
Inevitably what happened, once you finally got your hand on the toy, is that it disappointed you. You realized the packaging material was the most fun thing about the toy. Buying into the marketing lie was the surest way you’d be disappointed as a kid.
I’m convinced adults still get disappointed for similar reasons. Many of the things that let us down the most come from us buying into lies. Here are the two I see the most.
1. Expectations
Most of us have expectations of how our life should go. We have a two-car garage in our picket fence house. We play catch with our son each afternoon. And we enjoy weekends barbecuing burgers with the family. Call it the American dream.
But what happens when you are dealing with bankruptcy? Or what happens when you get the news that your son will be special needs when he’s finally born? Or what about when you need to work weekends just to make ends meet?
Those can be huge disappointments because of our expectations of how life is supposed to happen. But who told you life was supposed to go a certain way?
God never promised us the American dream. In fact, Jesus promised we’d deal with trials. But I’m convinced we can enjoy life the way it’s dealt to us if we remove our unreasonable expectations. Every moment of life is a gift from the father of lights—even if it doesn’t look like what you thought it would.
2. Comparisons
When you’re dealt a hand that was different than you thought, it can be easy to see the people around you who do have what you expected. Maybe they have the money or talents of resources you hoped you had. Consequently, you sit in disappointment wishing you had what they had.
Comparison kills your opportunity for living the unique life God prepared for you. Kill the comparison and embrace what God gives you. He’s given you everything you need to do His will.
Those are the two big things I’ve seen that lead to disappointment. What would you add to the list?