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.
Dale says
At this point in my life I am very discouraged. My dream was to teach school and it is like God has shut every door to where it never works out. I have given up. I don't feel encouraged any longer. I have prayed but I hear or see nothing.
Ms. L says
I need prayer, I have prayed I am tired..........Thanksl
Keaira Berry says
This is so helpful to me. I have had several disappointments over the last 7 years. Moving forward has been quite the challenge when it seems like you keep getting hit with one thing after another. I will definitely have to draw nigh to God and have this mindset to thrive again. Thanks so much for allowing God to use you in this capacity.
Laurie says
Thank you for your words, I really needed to hear them tonight. My husband passed when I was 30, then I was diagnosed with MS when I was 35, shortly after that I lost my job and had to move back home. Was running out of money and had to move in with my parents. All my things are sitting in storage collecting dust and I can't do anything about it. I used to dance before the Lord and felt so close to Him but ever since I moved back home I haven't been able to find a place where I can do that. I miss that. All I ever wanted in life is to have a family. Marriage and children. I'm 46 and feel like time is running out. So my fear is that I will never get my one desire in life which is to have a family. And I just want to know why not and will I ever get my dream of having a family. So I know what disappointment feels like because I feel like I live it every day.
Tonight I found encouragement through what you wrote. Thank you. Thank you for allowing God to use you to teach someone like me and many others. May God truly bless you for your obedience to Him.
Stephen says
Laurie, I read your post and felt so sorry! We all have our struggles, buh I knw God hears the cry of the broken! Hold unto him..
Stephen says
I saw light having read this passage, I have prayed and fasted for a visa to study at Memorial University Canada, I have been stagnant for some time after my contract job ended in 2015... Getting a job has been tough buh I taught of moving to another country for a greener pasture even as I have a Masters degree in Petroleum Engineering... I will continue to hope on God.... Thanks for the insight
jr says
Lately I have been dealing with anger and vengance against my kids stepmom. For years we couldnt find a way to get along. I tried so many times for the sake of my children, I knew it was best. But when dealing with a person who has hangups about you being once married to their husband its bound to surface from time to time. There was a time when we were getting along when my son almost died. She was who I leaned on in the hospital and I was so grateful for the friendship. She even went as far as to say she was sorry and would work on keeping our relationship good. Needless to say things went back to the old ways of not getting along, saying terrible things about me to my kids so I just decided to let it go. Now we are thrown together again and I am suffering from anger and resentment. I started searching and came across this blog. Thank goodness because it explains what Im feeling. I had no idea I was disappointed. I was feeling stubborn and digging my heels in not wanting to deal with her. Thank you for the verses to help me past this.
Judith Mendoza says
Thank you for being obedient in your own disappointment to encourage others. I wrote them all down and will read all the scriptures you listed with all 6 headings. I was crying when I found you. Jesus knew!
Mary Fashanu says
Thank you so much for this! Today has been a disappointing kinda day. And I came across your blog. I'm glad I did. God bless you for sharing this! It has blessed me.
Chidiebere Ezeani says
Thank you for this, just dug me out of a career disappointment. i get this heavy pangs and i feel like cutting my heart out. but while i read through i found peace in knowing that God is in control. Thank you..
Kathy says
Is 5:26 am; I read your post. My heart was heavy and to be honest I was mad at GOD. I have been practicing for a test over a year, & I took it five times& failed. I don't understand, I believe in GOD, I AM SAVED I DOING THE RIGHT THING IN LIFE... I really need to past this test, yes I have another chance.
Your post and scriptures really really help, it help, i am still hurting, I know I have to press on.
Scripture that help: Psalm 34:18
Jennifer says
I came across your blog that looks like it was posted 4 years ago and people are still being blessed daily by it! What an awesome testimony! After reading some of the comments, it made my little disappointment look senseless. Like many said, all of our disappointments are different. I am sure like many of you, dealing with teenage girl disappointments are hard. I have a beautiful daughter who wasn't ask to Homecoming and is usually left out. And it Texas, Homecoming is a big deal!! I am not saying she is perfect but does try to do the right thing. She does not have much confidence and all of her "friends" are going with someone else. I know God has a plan for her. Just hard to sit and wait.
Bibin Joy says
Praise the Lord. My God is working in the background. Thank you Lord for the grace showered on the writer. God bless you further and make further impacts in many more lives.
Judy Sutherland says
Hi Tara, I see it was over 4 years ago that you wrote this post but, as in all God's ways, it is timeless. It was timely for me to read it at this time... your scriptures are so relevant and fit so well. I have one other I am calling on at this time in my life - "My grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor 12.9. I talked to a close friend and spiritual confidante about my current situation and disappointment instead of my usual talk alone with God at the beach.... she's wonderful and that helped, but actually, the discussion with God alone would have been even better!! Blessings, Judy
Kate says
Thank you. Thank you for writing this. It has blessed me in a time of sorrow and I thank God for using you to encourage the disheartened. God bless you.
Patricia Taremwa says
I just want you to know that God made you write this because He I needed to be reading it now. I have been praying for how I can deal with a crushing disappointment. I he has answered my prayer. God bless you and Glory be to Him, our Father who knows our every need
Ruth says
Thanks Tara... you were led by the spirit to write this piece. It has given me hope after a disappointing news I heard today. God led me to read this message. I'm no more down casted, rather I AM HOPEFUL. Thanks. I'm writing from Nigeria.
Rachel says
Thank you so much. I needed this tonight.
Mary says
Good writing. The sin of wallowing in disappointment is a deadly trap. I particularly appreciated these words:
"Cry. Exercise. Read. Do whatever it is that releases the sadness, the disappointment, the defeat.
And then, eventually, you have to stop grieving and move on."
I would add this: Don't fall into avoidance behavior. Face the "things." Own them. I have seen others close to me, and engaged in this myself: using something, anything to distract from the overwhelming nature and hurt of disappointment. It can take a myriad of forms, this escapism, but it is just a terrible a trap as the disappointment itself. A Christian has to accept the place where they are at "okay" because that spot is exactly, perfectly, uniquely, precisely the place where the Lord is fully with them. Submitting like this is freeing.
Consider the life and experiences of Joseph in Genesis... remember what he went through? Boy did he ever know what disappointment felt like! He grieved over his circumstances, but that guy, wow, he just hung on to his God and every single step of the way, yielded to Him and honored Him day after day after day no matter what. And just LOOK what came about! It was such a long and weary process for him, but even in the worst of circumstances, all through the whole process, God brought amazing blessing to him, showed him tender kindness, and treated him with compassion and through it all had a larger plan to use him to bless and save others. What an example to us all!
S. Frances says
I know your wrote this five years ago, but it truly feels like God had my broken, disappointed spirit in mind when you wrote this. Every single word resonated with me and made my heart jump- “I don’t have to understand why this happened, because God does!!”
Thank you so much for writing this. Thank you so much for being an intrustment in the hands of our Mighty God.
Trisha H. says
I googled verses about disappointment, and your blog was the first hit. Your words and the verses you quoted were EXACTLY what I needed. Your blog, composed during your night of sadness and disappointment, was my perfect answer to prayer. Thank you for listening to God and for sharing. Blessings to you.
Bunmi Jacob Oluwale Obasanjo says
All wot have to say is to say a big thanks, my God will bless you and your ministry and ur family in Jesus mighty name Amen, I need ur teasing more, and ur sport in my ministry her in Africa, I ma pastor over a church, in Benin Republic her, and ur prayer over my ministry, thanks very much in Jesus Christ name Amen thanks.
Jeremy says
Thank you
Liz R says
Was searching for a scripture to give my grandson to help him thru a disappointment and many tears and was led to read your words. So thankful as they are an answer to prayer.
Stanley umeokonkwo says
Thank you very much
GOD have really used you to put smile on my face this night.
Almight and most high GOD I worship you
Janaejoy says
Tara, thank you for sharing this. I needed it. At 60ish I am in a job I don’t like and I am feeling burnt out. After years as a single mom, I recently married a wonderful man who works in sales. I thought life would become easier with 2 incomes but the second income is not there. We live mostly on my income. The disappointment I’ve felt has been hard to shake. Work friends at my age are redoing their homes, buying new furniture and going on trips to other continents or cruises. There is a sadness that lurks beneath the surface but I try to be grateful for what I have. It’s time to move on from the grieving and put it behind me. God knows my heart and has heard my prayers. I trust and wait on Him.
I appreciate the words you shared and I appreciate the chance to share my grief incognito. God bless !
Marcy says
Thank you so much for this! I was searching for some words of comfort for my son who did not get a job he was hoping for. He is a believer, and does trust the Lord. Your words are exactly what I wanted to say. I'm bookmarking your blog! God bless you!
Julie says
Zara,
Thank you for this amazing study. Such an incredible help and encouragement.
The lord bless you loads
Julie
Era Cooper says
This absolutely blessed my soul! I was in such a broken place when I read this and I had just began to pray and I asked God to help me heal from my situation ...and this email popped up and my inbox...I bless God for you and I pray that he continues to use and bless you!
Lisa says
Thanks you so much for this blog. You know when I thought everything was in place in my relationship it turn out that I'm just worth nothing.
The verse's just encouraged me that all hope is not lost thank you for sharing
Yolonda says
THANK YOU!