Dealing with disappointment? Me too!
I was diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors in 2012 and had my last treatment more than a year ago. My MRI in October showed everything was stable. I could get on with my life.
To celebrate, my husband and I planned a trip to Europe in May. And by plan, I mean putting down deposits, buying airline tickets, getting organized and prepared. And then ...
I woke up one morning and couldn’t hear—yet again. To clarify, I actually could hear some sound, but everything was distorted to the point of not being able to understand what anyone was saying!
I’m back on treatment and that means NO trip to Europe. Talk about being disappointed—I was and I still am. My husband and I were really excited about the trip.
I probably should be more worried about my health and my hearing, but I put those in God’s hands a long time ago. He’s given me a supernatural peace about them. It was a really good deal for me. But now I’m dealing with the disappointment of our canceled trip.
I know God loves me and that He will work all things out for the good of those who love Him. He promises that. And I believe Him. Since I believe that, I also know my disappointment is temporary.
We all have disappointments in life. Each time we face one, we have a choice how to react. It would be easy to be angry, upset, and frustrated, but what good would that do?
I still have to have the treatment, have to deal with the side effects of the treatment, and can’t go to Europe. The only thing I would accomplish by focusing on the negative emotions is to create even more negative emotions.
At the moment, I’m sad and disappointed. To pretend I’m not doesn’t seem like a healthy option either. On the other hand, I have no intention of getting stuck in the quicksand of those negative emotions. I know God loves me, and He will work this out for my good. When you are disappointed, trust harder and know God loves you.
(Photo courtesy of morguefile and Hotblack.)
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Lillian lives in a small town in Ohio with her husband. She writes the types of books she loves to read—fast-paced suspense and mystery, with a touch or two of romance that demonstrates God’s love for all of us. She was a school speech pathologist for thirty years but retired after being diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors due to Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), a rare genetic disease. Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words—especially God’s Word—to transform lives. To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillian-duncan.com.