Don't Be Disappointed When You Don't See God's Plan | Devotion

“Woe to those who say, ‘let God hurry, let him hasten his work so we may see it.” —ISAIAH 5:19

We know from Scripture that God is never in a hurry. Before the creation of the world, He had His plans in place. From a human perspective our world is problematic and uncertain, but from a divine perspective, there is purpose and a certainty that sees beyond the present to the big picture of God’s agenda.

Because of the culture we live in with its advanced technology and instant communication, we attach great value to everything going smoothly, but it is often in our disappointments and failures, we meet with God the most. This is prevalent throughout the history of Israel, going right back to Abraham and Isaac, the promised son Abraham had waited 25 years for. Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob had 12 sons, who became the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph, the second youngest, was betrayed by his older brothers, sold as a slave and taken to Egypt where he was eventually made Prime Minister. Due to a severe famine in Canaan, his entire family migrated to Egypt. They increased greatly in number, and were skilled and prosperous, which posed a huge threat to the new Pharaoh. Consequently, the Hebrew people were enslaved.

For 400 years the Israelites lived in captivity. God used Moses to set them free, and for another 40 years, because of their rebellion against God, they wander the desert. After entering the land of Canaan, at their insistence, God gives them a king. At the end of Solomon’s reign, the third king of Israel, civil war divides the nation in two; Israel to the north and Judah to the south. Throughout most of the Old Testament, Israel is in captivity, oppressed and enslaved. When we come to the New Testament, they are living under Roman rule. Great promise that led to great expectation that led to great disappointment.

There is a long view of history and a short view of the present. We live in the narrow confines of our three score years and ten, and what happens in our life spans is what becomes significant to us. But God’s perspective sees the entire picture. Sometimes we’re not going to know what God is doing, nor see the end result, but we can know this: in Jesus Christ there is significance and a future. When we sense great promise that leads to great expectation, but ends in disappointment, we need to remember God is working out His purpose. The day will come when we stand with the Lord Jesus, and see that the little slither of our lifetimes is going to reveal a story, perfect and pleasing to the will of God that we cannot possibly know now.

Dear Father, when I am disappointed, help me to see your purpose being worked out in your time, and keep me mindful of the bigger picture you have in store. Thank You, Lord.

Am I content in serving God, knowing I may not see an end result?