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.
Dira says
Hi. I just came bake from a weekend retreat and it was wonderful. But, back at home I find myself face with disapointment. And like you and many people , I have been faced with lots of disapointments. Something told me to do a qick search for how the bible tells us to deal with this, so here I am. I have never left a comment on a blog but I just had to. God's word is truly living. And years after this blog was posted it is still a blessing to all those who read it. So, may the peace of God fill the heart of each of you.
Brittany says
I just wanted to say thank you for your words of wisdom. I truly needed all of it, due to the disappointment I am currently experiencing. I pray that the Lord blesses you in a mighty way and give you the desires of your heart according to his will.
Be Bless,
Britt
Emma says
Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God really used you to talk directly to me. God is so so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jasmine says
Tara, and all others,
I am so thankful for how GOD has used your story(ies) to minister to us all. We are a technology based cloud of witnesses to see how He will move and also to provide support and prayer for each other. I'm glad that in my own disappointment and frustration, I could read this post (and comments) and be encouraged by you.
Please know that you are in my prayers. I appreciate your obedience, and I pray that as you have shared your story and been poured out and emptied for His sake, that the LoRd will fill you back up in ways you can't imagine for all of the good and truth you have sown.
With Love,
Jasmine
Amanda says
I just wanted to say thank you. I needed this more than ever and it bright tears to my eyes the confirmation this passage brought to me. I'm grateful for your obedience in the midst of your own personal struggle because I am a witness to that's when God frees you most. In the midst of using you to free others, He will free you. We will not live this life Clif of disappointment, but God will love us beyond, in and through it. Thank you my heart is beyond full because I am overwhelmed by His love right now. Thank you, may you've blessed immensely for your simple act of obedience.
Jill says
Thank you! This was exactly what I needed. God Bless
DOUGLAS says
Thanks for this. I believe it was specially written for me.
God bless!
crystal says
Thank you for your encouragement. Your sleeplessness has blessed me.
Sebastian says
I have felt dissapointed of myself, each time more, since a long time now. This versicles, are things that make me step away from this feeling of defeat, and dissapoint, and just, go on, hoping I'll do it. This one, likes me a lot ....
Psalm 94:17-19American Standard Version (ASV)
17 Unless Jehovah had been my help, My soul had soon dwelt in silence.
18 When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, held me up.
19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.
Cherie says
Happened upon this lovely site via Pinterest, so glad I did!
Blessings,
Cherie
Sarah says
Thank you so much for writing this, God really does have a plan for us even through all our misery.
Terese says
Just wanted to say how much this helped this morning! Everyone experiences struggles in their life and for the last couple of weeks I've been undergoing alot of heartaches and pain. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your words, you've made a difference. I hope you continue to be a positive voice!
Thank you!
Teedo says
Thanks Tara. This has helped me more than 2 years after.
KayE says
I too googled scriptures on disappointment and was bought too this site... For the last 2 years I've been trying to get pregnant with no success. I pay my tithes and offering. I've fasted, I pray, I read my bible, I believe God, I speak positively about my situation and I've gone to several medical professionals to make sure that I'm healthy.. with still no success..
My biggest struggle is that I have friends that are pregnant and/or those that recently had babies. They like to share their pregnancy news with me.. I'm happy for them yet I'm so sad and disappointed that it's not me.
Please pray for my strength so that I'll be able to withstand satan getting in my brain and causing me to not believe that he can do just what he promised.
Chris Vara says
I just dealt with disappointment the past week, one week I expected to be my best (graduation) turned to be a week of disappointment. Thank you for allowing God to use you to speak words of life!
grace says
May God bless you for this awosome ppiece of encouragement.
Carrie Green says
This is for me..I'm going to bookmark this and refer to it as I'm struggling with the disappointments I am facing
Shara says
To God be the Glory, Great things he has done. He knew that i would need this today and guided me to your page. Blessings to you and yours and may God continue to make his face shine apon you, be gracious unto you and give you his peace. Amen
alize says
I am dealing with anxiety and disappointments these days and that is actually how I found this blog. Anyway thank you for sharing this to the world. I am so familiar with the feeling such this. Thank you again. I can feel my hopes up a bit after reading this. By the way just like you I also share my thoughts through blogging and that is exactly what i am gonna do now..
GOD BLESS YOU ALL GUYS.
Amanda says
Thank you for writing this, it was a true blessing and eased my heart tonight. A good reminder that HIS plans far exceed my expectations.
Megan Rardin says
Dear Tara,
This was so beautifully written and so honest. As I was reading it I was reminded of a difficult disappointment I went through almost 4 years ago. So much of what you wrote rang true. Currently I am a Pregnancy Counselor for an adoption agency & I work with women who are making the heroic choice of placing their children for adoption despite the pain and it disappointment it causes them. I plan to share this excerpt of your blog with them in the hopes it will help them navigate a difficult time in their life and to find hope in what God can do if they'll let him. So thank you!
Katie says
I have nothing profound to say just thank you. Thank you for sharing and following God's leadership. This is a great encouragement to me in what is the hardest and worst time of my life. Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. But your words have reminded me that God always has something good around the corner. I do indeed have hope in Him.
Thank you.
Helen Brown says
You were so right, I needed to read this right now. Thank you for answering His call to put this up.
Todd says
I found this site tonight after searching in the web for something to help me overcome my anxious fears and disappointments in myself. I sold our home recently out of discontent thinking a "better" home or bigger yard would satisfy me. I've come to a crashing realization that I have let down my family and myself. I wish I could take it all back and move back to our home we raised the family. I catch myself dreaming about the old home and making comparisons that are driving me nuts. I am depressed and overwhelmed of the dumb move I made. It has caused me to be withdrawn from my family and feeling like I let everyone down. Your post has helped me realize that Gods ways are higher than mine and my mistakes can still be used of God. I still have heavy remorseful feelings for moving the family and get really down with a heavy heart so much that my once cheerful disposition is no longer there. I hope and pray that these feelings will go away. Please pray for me
Psalm says
Surely our Heavenly Father never leaves nor forsakes us, I started reading this post with so much heaviness in my heart. But now all I can say is it is well with my soul. May The Almighty God continue to bless the author of this post, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.
Stephen Bassette says
My girlfriend told me yesterday that she was looking up verses about overcoming disappointment. We have a long-distance relationship at the moment and I still don't know what specific disappointments she's been dealing with, though I have somewhat of an idea. I looked up verses for her this afternoon and came across this blog post. I sent her the link and started reading it for myself and it's been very encouraging to me and I'm sure it will be to her as well.
I just wanted you to know that what God inspired you to do that night in 2013 is still impacting people like me and my girlfriend two years later. Thank you for listening to the voice of God and being faithful to share the good word He put on your heart.
Jared says
Thank you so much for these words. It is amazing that you wrote this nearly two and a half years ago and God led me to this today. After serving in the military and being medically retired due to lower back and hip problems after only 2 1/2 years of service, I gave up on my lifelong dream career. I started a career in the same field, but a different position. I quickly saw how much I love my job. Recently I put in for a promotion. Shortly after putting in for the promotion I got a call with the opportunity to be able to reach my original lifelong dream career. After much thought and prayer, I felt God leading me to turn down this opportunity so I did just that. I felt that at my current position I was where God wants me to be. Now it is looking like I may not get the promotion and it feels like I turned down my dream for a new dream that isn't looking like will end well. I am so disappointed and hurt and angry and so many emotions are within me right now. Your words here really helped! I feel like God is using your words to speak to me. I have been telling myself that God's will will be done and that he has plans for me that I can't imagine. But is is very difficult. It is so hard. My favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5, and I do my best to live by it. I do my best and give every effort within me to trust in God and not my own understanding. Thank you so much for these words! You have blessed me today and I feel a little more at ease. It is still difficult (maybe I am just too impatient --- patience has never been my strong point) but I know in the end God will prevail and reveal great things for me!
Jami says
Just wanted to say "Thank you". You don't know how many times over the past several years I have gone searching for "Prayers for dealing with disappointment", and your blog is always the one that makes me feel better. So, "Thank you". I'm so blessed that you were inspired one lonely, alone night to write this down. I'm sure at the time it didn't feel like it, but you were being the servant you were meant to be in that moment.
Jackie says
I googled "bible verses for feeling like you're not part of the family" and this blog post came up. I didn't think what I was feeling was disappointment but then I read your definition and the tears of the last four hours got super intense because, yes, that's it I'm diappointed. Then they turned to tears of relief. How many times do I have to be reminded to put all things in God's hands and keep my faith? Thank the Lord for never failing to remind me in some way. And Thank You for telling me it's ok to grieve in my disappointment and reminding me to move on. God has a plan for me!!
Justine says
I am so impressed...whn I came across this blog en I read the scriptures, its like a load was jus lifted off my shoulder... I am so thankful, to our Almighty for sending his peple to cum tell us the word of truth...the comforting word...I was a lil disappointed thus I typed on my phone" verses when one feel disappointed" en guess what this jus came up. praise the Lord...he is the mighty! !!!!