Articles on Christianity
Disappointed with God
By
John Buttrey II
Despite an amazing display of God’s awesome power, through ten plagues and the parting of the sea, leading to their freedom from the bondage of Egypt, the children of Israel soon became disappointed with God. They expressed this disappointment repeatedly. For the sake of space allowed for this article, here are just two examples:
The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Exodus 16:3
Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”
Exodus 17:2
Though the people appear to only be complaining against Moses, it is actually the Lord with whom they are upset. Moses points this out to them:
Moses said, “This will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the Lord hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord.”
Exodus 16:8 (Emphasis Mine)
The children of Israel are not the only ones in the Bible to express disappointment in God. The prophet Habakkuk also seemed disappointed in the Almighty:
How long, O Lord, will I call for help,
And You will not hear?
I cry out to You, “Violence!”
Yet You do not save.
Habakkuk 1:2
From practically the beginning of time till today, many a believer in God has at some point in their life felt disappointed in Him. This might occur when a prayer is not answered the way we wanted. It can happen when an unexpected tragedy strikes our life. There are any number of scenarios in life that can bring about disappointment, or even disillusionment in God.
Disappointment in God generally occurs when He does not do what we think He should do, or when we feel we are being ignored or neglected by Him. We find ourselves with these types of feelings when our will is not in line with God’s will.
Jesus taught us to pray that God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). However, there may be times when we do not like His will, as it may involve something unpleasant to us. Peter felt this way. Remember when Jesus revealed to the twelve that He would be killed?
Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”
Matthew 16:22
Peter is clearly disappointed in what Jesus has said. However, do you remember how Jesus rebuked Peter?
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
Matthew 16:23 (Emphasis Mine)
Anytime our interests are in conflict with God’s, we are going to find ourselves disappointed in Him. In order to overcome such disappointment, and the weakened faith it creates, we must always seek to know God’s will. We must also have the strength of faith that knows God is in control and is on our side. Paul said it well:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:31
The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Exodus 16:3
Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water that we may drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?”
Exodus 17:2
Though the people appear to only be complaining against Moses, it is actually the Lord with whom they are upset. Moses points this out to them:
Moses said, “This will happen when the Lord gives you meat to eat in the evening, and bread to the full in the morning; for the Lord hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord.”
Exodus 16:8 (Emphasis Mine)
The children of Israel are not the only ones in the Bible to express disappointment in God. The prophet Habakkuk also seemed disappointed in the Almighty:
How long, O Lord, will I call for help,
And You will not hear?
I cry out to You, “Violence!”
Yet You do not save.
Habakkuk 1:2
From practically the beginning of time till today, many a believer in God has at some point in their life felt disappointed in Him. This might occur when a prayer is not answered the way we wanted. It can happen when an unexpected tragedy strikes our life. There are any number of scenarios in life that can bring about disappointment, or even disillusionment in God.
Disappointment in God generally occurs when He does not do what we think He should do, or when we feel we are being ignored or neglected by Him. We find ourselves with these types of feelings when our will is not in line with God’s will.
Jesus taught us to pray that God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). However, there may be times when we do not like His will, as it may involve something unpleasant to us. Peter felt this way. Remember when Jesus revealed to the twelve that He would be killed?
Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.”
Matthew 16:22
Peter is clearly disappointed in what Jesus has said. However, do you remember how Jesus rebuked Peter?
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”
Matthew 16:23 (Emphasis Mine)
Anytime our interests are in conflict with God’s, we are going to find ourselves disappointed in Him. In order to overcome such disappointment, and the weakened faith it creates, we must always seek to know God’s will. We must also have the strength of faith that knows God is in control and is on our side. Paul said it well:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:31