These encouraging Bible verses will help you to overcome disappointment through the words and truths of the Lord God and Jesus Christ. The Scriptures will comfort your heart when you're disappointed and bring faith, hope, and strength to your spirit.
I am not a born optimist, but then, I don't think anyone really is.
Despite appearances, I do not naturally see the good in people or in situations. My heart hides snarky cynicism and crushing depression, fragile insecurity and paralyzing anxiety. I have to work (harder than you think) at being pleasant and cheerful and uplifting.
I fail.
It is 12:52 am.
I am alone in a dark, quiet house. Isn't this every mothers' dream? Peace and quiet and time for reflection?
The rest of my family is enjoying a planned weekend away. I, too, had weekend plans, cancelled against my wishes at the last minute.
My heart is so heavy, burdened with the loss of encouragement and refreshment and friendship the weekend promised.
My limbs should be splayed out in the middle of my empty bed, and I should be deep in sleep.
About ten minutes ago, words I read in a Skype chat almost three weeks ago jolted me awake. My eyes flung open, and I jumped out of bed.
You should write about dealing with disappointment, she typed.
I can't, I argued. There are too many disappointments in my life right now (little did I know what was on the horizon!). It's just too close to home.
I don't remember what she said next, whether it was something like That's why you should write about it, or Do it when you're ready, or maybe nothing at all. I hadn't thought about the conversation another second until it woke me up in the middle of the night.
Disappointment (noun): the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the defeat of one's hopes or expectations
The disappointments in my life have been many.
The selfish, immature part of me wants to lay them all out before you, as if your kindness and pity would make them go away. They won't.
Our circumstances are different, yours and mine, but we both have them. Yours are as real and crushing and painful to you as mine are to me, and they linger, needling our hearts, despite our best intentions to leave them behind.
13 Bible Verses to Overcome Disappointment
- Believe in God's plan. Our God is a miracle worker. He can part waters, move boulders, heal the dead (not just the sick, remember, the dead), save, destroy, bless, and curse. He can do anything, everything, things beyond our comprehension. He has done, all throughout history, for Christians all over the world.
"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:8-9
When I say you have to believe, I mean you have to believe that God has got this thing in His hands. He is looking out for you. He is working out a plan that is bigger than you, and you are going to be better for it in the end.
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." -Jeremiah 29:11
Sometimes, it takes a painful disappointment to teach us a skill or strengthen our faith or to put us in the right place at the right time. We don't know His ways or His thoughts. We just have to believe in His promise.
- Grieve. Things have not gone the way you wanted. Your hopes and expectations have been defeated. You need to spend some quiet time being sad, mourning the way you thought things would be.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. -Psalm 34:18
Cry. Exercise. Read. Do whatever it is that releases the sadness, the disappointment, the defeat, the suffering.
And then, eventually, you have to stop grieving and move on.Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. -Psalm 30:5
Disappointment is not meant to define you, my friend. It is not meant to hold you hostage or weigh you down into the mire of depression. Don't give it that power.
- Pray. You had to know this was coming, right? Spend some time talking to your Heavenly Father. Tell Him your heartache. Tell Him about the plans you had and ask Him to show you why He's taken them away. I promise you that He has good in this for you, and it's okay to ask Him what that good is.
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28
Talk to Him like you'd talk to your best friend. Your prayer doesn't have to be pretty or sound like one at your church. It just has to be honest and come from your heart.
Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. -Psalm 55:22
You, my friend, are the godly. You are chasing after God, trying to do the right thing, seeking a better understanding of Him. Aren't you? He's talking about you.
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
- Listen and wait. Big things happen when we pray. Sometimes, they are blessings beyond our expectations.
But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. -Matthew 6:6
Sometimes they happen right away, but usually they happen later when we least expect them. Keep waiting in God's love and grace. You'll know when your prayer has been answered.
Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. -Psalms 27:14
- Search for the good. This is a miserable time to try to be thankful. I don't know about you, but all I want to do is wallow in self pity of my dreams deferred (or dreams lost). This is the time when it's hardest - and most important - to find the good, grab onto it with both hands, and celebrate it. You need to find a new perspective and praise the One who created all the good in the world.
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. -Psalm 118:24
In beginning this post in the middle of the night, I came to understand that it wouldn't have happened if my plans had worked out. I wouldn't have been sleeping fitfully. I wouldn't have jumped out of bed to write these words. It was God's plan for me to write these words. (It has been an incredibly soothing and cathartic process). It is also His plan for you to be reading them right now. I am thankful that He chose me.
Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19b-20
- Believe in yourself. You too are part of God's great plan. He is preparing you to do His work right now, even in this time of disappointment. No matter what burden comes, know that He will help you stand underneath it, carry it up the hill, and triumph over it in the end.*
Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. -Isaiah 40:28-31
God believes in you. You may not feel equipped to handle this on your own, but He'll give you what you need to get through it.
For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength. -Philippians 4:13
*The triumph doesn't always happen when we think it should. Sometimes, we only triumph over our struggles as we leave this broken world. A conversation I had with my pastor illustrates this point:
"Tara, God will heal her."
"I just don't know that He will. She is so sick. She hardly gets out of bed."
"He is going to heal her. He might heal her body now, or He might heal her soul in heaven, but you can trust Him to heal her."
Wow. The simplicity and immensity of that statement left me with many tears but complete peace. We can trust Him to defeat our disappointment, no matter what it is.
Get these Bible verses on overcoming disappointment in a convenient black and white printable below. You can work on memorizing and meditating on them, one at a time.
If you need help with a system for memorizing verses, check out this post on our family's memorization habit.
Megan says
I am so thankful that the Lord brought me to read your words. They helped me to understand that my self disappointment is ok, but I must learn to take it as a lesson and give my worries to the Lord. I received my ACT scores and felt very disappointed that they were not what I thought they would be. My parents were disappointed and I was disappointed in myself. I started to question God's plan for me. Now after reading your words I have found a self peace within myself and I am so thankful!
Leah says
Hello Tara,
I'm a senior in high school and just stumbled upon this post like many others, by typing in a plead to google asking for help on self disappointment. I knew I was searching for something christian related, but was blown away by the impact your words held for me. Unlike many of the other people who have commented, my disappointment comes from a poor decision I made on new years regarding underage drinking. To say the least, I don't think anyone will be more disappointed in me than I am in myself. And when I read the ending when you said something along the lines of God was using you to write this post because the person reading was meant to be reading it, I couldn't agree more. I know the decisions I made were wrong and the people that look up to me can still look up to me, but I am still struggling with looking up to myself. So thank you so very much for jumping out of bed to write this, because with out, I would still be sitting on my bed drowning in my self pity and pit of despair. I'm going to go forward and highlight all those verses in my bible and sit in prayer with God. Thank you so very much! â€
Jordan-Danielle says
I know this comment is extremely late, and I know you probably won't even get to see this. But you have no idea how much this touched me. I'm so glad that God was able to use you for this, because I really needed to read this. It really helps me put my thoughts and emotions into perspective when I deal with disappointments because I've been dealing with quite a few lately. Again thank you so much for this article, I know God has blessed you tremendously for listening to His instructions! God bless you!
Tara Ziegmont says
I read every comment on my site. 🙂 I'm glad you found the post and that it mattered to you. Bless you.
Bev Martin says
Hi Tara,
I thank you very much for your words - you truely are a godsend.
I stumbled across this page after searching google for a prayer to deal with disappointment/angger after once again receiving a disappointingly low pergformance rating at work, despite consistently exceeding targets and expectations, and often taking time out to help others to achieve.
It is comforting to be reminded that God has a plan for me, and that though others may not appreciate my talents, God will use them for the goodness.
I pray that God gives us all strength to trust in him.
Many thanks
Bev
Shanera says
Thank you....
Cayla says
You were right, God's plan was for me to be reading those words at the very moment I needed them most. Thank you so much for this beautiul reminder.
Tracey Dillon says
I just wanted to stop by and let you know that our GOD is good. It's amazing how he uses us even in the time of our distress. He woke you up to write this and you probably had know idea that even 2 years later that it would help someone. I recently received some painful news and today I was just search for something to hold onto. I googled scriptures to help with disappointment and this blog came up. I've read it a couple of times and also bookmarked it to refer back to later. I just want you to know that you have reminded me of some things that I needed reminding of today. I will hold these scriptures close to my heart and prayerfully seek God's face during this time. Thank you for being obedient to His command.
Be blessed
Martha C. says
You are a gift to so many who needed - need exactly what you wrote, like me. Thank you for listening and responding and ending up helping so many. Blessings dear one. MC
Jalyn says
Thank you so much for this post. I'm a recent college graduate but it feels like everything is a a stand still. I have been looking for a job and the no's are rolling in. Actually so much now,that I'm getting used to it. I felt so discourage and frustrated. I'm Actually crying as I'm typing now. This post was an eye opener for me. You are definitely a blessing.
rea says
I am going through a lot right now and reading this is like 'this is what God is telling me'.. I felt like I was talking to God. Thank you Tara.. God bless us all.
Ratu says
Thank you Tara!
Rachel says
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
virginia says
thank you very much ,now i understand when you say,Dissapointment is not meant to define you life must go on ,you can't stay angry forever .....
Andrei Isayeu says
Jesus has set me free from all addictions that I have been struggling with, all my life. Jesus made my broken heart into a brand new heart and He filled my heart with His love, joy, peace, grace, and freedom from sin. Jesus poured so much love upon me that I can't even explain to you because His love is what I desperately needed and was looking for in all of my life. I realized that I was desperately in need of Someone Who can love me so much unconditionally. I pray that God would heal those people who need healing, deliver those who need to be delivered, save those who need to be saved, change those who need to be changed, protect those who need to be protected, feed those who are hungry, give a clean water to those who are thirsty, give clothing and shelter to those who don't have anything to wear and encourage those who are discouraged. Jesus showed me the most Perfect and Unconditional Love that Healed me, Changed me, Delivered me, Cleansed me from all the junk that Satan has put on me. I was in chains of sin for all my life until Jesus came into my life and broke all the chains of guilt, shame, depression, anger, bullying, fear, loneliness, curses, and much more. I prayed the following prayer, by confessing with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in my heart that God has raised Him (Jesus) from the dead. I believed that Jesus is a Son of God and God because Jesus came to this earth and became like us people so it would be much easier for us to understand that how desperately we need Salvation.
> There is Power in the name of Jesus to crush and break every chain!
> There is Power in the Holy Blood of Jesus to heal all diseases!
> There is Power in the name of Jesus to change anybody from inside out! May God's Kingdom come!
> May God's will be done!
> Jesus said in John Chapter 14: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
My Prayer of Repentance: Dear Jesus Christ, I come to you at this time. I realize that I am a sinner and I really need your forgiveness. I caused you so much pain and distressed you many times. Please, I ask you to forgive me all of my sins that I have ever committed in my life. I thank you so much for all that you did for me by giving me Salvation and Eternal Life. I Honor you Heavenly Father for giving your only begotten Son Jesus for punishment, and death 2000 years ago. I Glorify You Heavenly Father for raising your son Jesus Christ from the dead on the 3rd day. I receive you Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. Please come into my life and into my heart and change me. I believe in everything that says in Your Holy Word, my Savior and my Lord Jesus Christ. I make a decision from today to fully commit myself to you and to serve you with all of my life. Amen.
Result after I prayed Prayer of Repentance: As soon as I prayed this prayer above, God changed me the way that no one could change me. God poured His love upon me in the way that I can't measure. THAT IS WHEN I BECAME A BORN AGAIN PERSON!
SIMSON says
WOW THIS IS SO SUPER AWESOME THANK U VERY MUCH AND AM SURE WITH NO DOUGHTS THAT I WILL BE AT PEACE AND WILL PUT ALL THOSE STEPS AT WORK AND WILL STUDY THOSE SCRIPTRS ALL OVER AGAIN TO BUILD MY FAITH MORE STRONGER
Kate says
Tara, thank you so much for posting this. I just read this article (Feb. 19, 2015) and I can't believe that this has been written/published almost 3 years ago. I have had some personal struggles lately, wondering what God's plan is for me. A year ago, I went through a really bad time from a relationship that I was involved in and my life has been better than ever since I cut those ties and began living for God, but lately within the past several months I have been having some minor bumps in the road with some things that have happened in my life. I'm struggling right now what God is trying to teach me and struggling with the destiny God has planned for me and how I am supposed to get there. This post reminded me of some verses I need to apply to my everyday life. Thank you! It's amazing how much this article still has impact on people from a few years later....God was using you for his God-given purpose for you, thanks for brightening up my day! 🙂
Katie says
I just want to thank you so much for these words...
Arlene says
My husband shared this website with me after I was devastated about failing my nursing boards. I'm prayful that these scriptures will help me avoid depression and bring me to a place in God where I need to be.
lucia says
i am so blessed with the verses especial to know that He has a better plans
Leoma91 says
These words gave me so much strength as well as what God did to me. I'm in His plan even in this time of disappointment. Thank Him.
Connie Montero says
I LOVE this post. I LOVE these scriptures. I got food poisoning on Saturday night. Went to the hospital on Monday ...struggled all week physically. Just had my first solid meal and it's Thursday. I had big plans this week with work. I was looking forward to ending my month strong. Funny thing is, I thought God was on the same page. Lol. I really believed He was gonna keep blessing me. Well, after reading your post I realized He has. This week as I've suffered through this horrible bout of food poisoning, some amazing things happened. I experienced some life lessons. I had been reading about being thankful and grateful for all of Gods blessing inspite of any negative situation. So I found myself praising God and being thankful at the worst of it all. I also had an opportunity to talk to my sister about God, it was such perfect timing. Totally God. I also came to realize that although I am not an alcoholic I don't want to drink more than 2 glasses of anything alcohol. I don't like having a foggy mind, I lose focus and I don't get to talk about God. Saturday afternoon I was singing praises in my car on my way to a birthday party and I was excited for what God had in store...I wondered who I would be able to talk to about God and how AMAZING He is. After about 3 drinks I just was in la la land. Then, later that night I ate some tacos that were out waaaaay too long. The worst food poisoning I have ever had in my life. I could have wallowed in my misery all week. But instead I looked to God. What could I learn from this? How can I be of any service to anyone? Then, he brought me my sister who never wants to talk to me and who doesn't believe in God. It was stuff that was in my heart for quite some time. I knew she would benefit from hearing but also knew I couldn't force any words on her either. I really couldn't see how we could ever have this conversation for so many reasons. But in the quite of the day, with no kids around, she came to me. I was able to tell her all the things pressing on my heart for her. It was totally God. Next He revealed to me that I need to lay back on the alcohol. And throughout this horrible sickness, every time I wanted to feel sorry for myself, I thanked God that I was alive and for being so great. I know this stuff builds character. It helps you to stretch and grow and not stay stagnant. As I am sitting day 4 after having my first solid meal I was reflecting on my week. Today is the last day of production at my job and I sure could have had an awesome month had I worked the past 3 days. I felt disappointed. So I decided to check out what the bible says about disappointment because frankly I felt a little guilty feeling this way. Your post really confirmed and brought to light everything God did for me this week. It wasn't a disaster week. What the devil intended for bad, God made for my good. I really have been blessed this week. I am grateful for this week. Disappointed? Well, ya, it would have been nice to not be sick and be crowned a top producer at my job but I will take the priceless lessons God has taught me over a worldly crown any day. After all, He is gearing me up to do His will. Whatever it takes.
Mal says
Thank You â¤Ã¯¸
Marcus says
I am 17 .I am really disappointed by my O levels results and some how felt it's the end of life but I now feel better reading your post thanks a lot. ...
jen says
Thank you. This is what I needed and still need. You have helped more then you will ever know.
Angel says
thank you so much for sharing this! This really help me to going through my days~ God bless you always 🙂
Marvin says
Thank you for obeying God's voice and writing about this. It has really blessed my heart. I was so low and didn't know what step to take. Reading these scriptures and your testimony has really blessed my heart. May God continue to use you for His glory alone.
Peace & Blessings,
Marvin (Nairobi, Kenya)
Hans says
Love it! Thanks for writing this, I so needed to hear this right now. May God bless you!
Beverly says
I'm a pastor's wife in a small, struggling church. Lots of disappointments and frustrations come with the territory. Thank you for your honesty, transparency and simplicity. I appreciate the scriptural reminders of our faithful Father's promises to us. I am so thankful God put your link in my Google search this morning!! Blessings to you.
Barbie says
This was so beautiful in all of its honesty and very much needed. You wrote the words I've felt but haven't been able to find. Thank you!
Deb says
I needed this. Over the years i have build my hopes up for different situations- birthdays, christmas, kids and the dreams I envisioned for them only to be disappointed. They are now grown and on their own. My 56th birthday is on the horizon. I am not expecting anything from the kids but my husband told me a couple weeks ago that we would go out of town for my day. I was excited as he NEVER plans anything. Well today, i was told that we are not going from Friday as planned. Maybe we would go on Sat. I was crushed.Tears began to well up in my eyes and I said not again. Why are you surprised. This is nothing new. You see over the years everything was put on hold for the kids and $$ was tight.When he decides to get me a gift it is usually something I do not really care for. It either sits in the closet or gets donated. Now we are in a position to do some things but disappointments keep coming my way.
The Lord led me to your site and as I write i am becoming calm. Thanks for those scriptures. I will try to keep them in my folder as i know disappointments will come again. God will see me through this one.