Disappointment Might be an Appointment

Daily I read what I wrote in my journal for this day last year. Since early January, I’ve read about the excitement of being on the leadership team for our upcoming ACTS Retreat that was to have been on the weekend of April 23rd. We were wonder-eyed and “on fire” with passion and great anticipation for the lives of the women who would be radically transformed on that retreat. We were dedicated and devoted to our months of preparation. I wrote about what God had given me to share each week with these women on our team. Our goal was training them to be women warriors – standing in the gap for women who would never be the same after that upcoming weekend. The four of us on our Lead Team were first equipping our team (about 35 of us in all) before the retreat for the 35 retreatants who would be attending. Our weekly mission was preparing our team for what was ahead. Before we could give our all to the retreatants, we would give our all to preparation. We sang songs like “I Raise a Hallelujah” in the presence of my enemies / I raise a hallelujah, louder than my unbelief / I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody / I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me / I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm / Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar / Up from the ashes, hope will arise / Death is defeated, the King is alive!” These women were digging in for their own transformation and we witnessed it as they shared their “miracle”, personal stories each week. All systems were on go – and we put our hearts, bodies and souls into it. Fast forward to March – just a few weeks out from the anticipated retreat where we would put all our passion and diligence into action for the main event. Well, you know what happened. What we thought was “our appointment” became disappointment when the pandemic changed everything. Disappointment” is the feeling of sadness caused by the non-fulfillment of expectations and hopes. We were disappointed. The truth is we can't stop disappointment, but we can stop staying stuck in it. It is easy to dwell on something or someone that hurts us. But wallowing in it gets us nowhere. As long as we remain in sadness, the more miserable we can get. BUT, when we refuse to stay in that place and go to our Peace-Giver, we are promised that we will find a place of joy, comfort, and peace. Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Isn’t it interesting that the word "appointment” is within the word “disappointment”? Though disappointments can take something from us, disappointment can also give us something: an opportunity and the possibility of creating change. THAT is what this season brought me. My disappointment and my discomfort pushed me toward the desire for change and here I am leaping into a brand-new season of adventure. God is in the set-up and appointment business. There are many future God-appointments on the other side of whatever disappointment we may be encountering today. God has your name on His appointment schedule. He'll be right on time. Don't be a minute late!