What Do You Do with Disappointment
Welcome to Living a Lifestyle of Prayer. My name is Linda Steppen Barker, and I’m going to be reading What Do You Do with Disappointment?
Let’s pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we know that disappointment is a part of life. It’s a very real and painful emotion that we all experience. Whether someone is going through it right now or recalling a past disappointment, I pray that You would show them how You were with them in that place and how You are still present now. I pray they would feel Your tangible presence. And I thank You that we are overcomers in all things. Show us, personally, how to overcome disappointment. We thank You and we love You. In Your name we pray, Amen.
The Scriptures for today are Psalm 34:17–18:
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
What do you do with disappointment?
I’m talking about those moments when things you had hoped and prayed for didn’t turn out the way you imagined. When instead of breakthrough, you face more struggle, or instead of healing, you receive more bad news.
Over the past year and a half, I’ve experienced this over and over, taking blow after blow of heavy disappointment. I know your situation may not be exactly like mine, but perhaps you are facing disappointment in your marriage, with your children, in your job, or even with how your life has turned out. Maybe you’re simply overwhelmed by the world around you and feel like it’s all too much. If so, know that you’re not alone.
Whatever your specific circumstances, Scripture encourages us to take three powerful steps.
1. Cast all your cares on Him
1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Whatever your disappointment, be real with God. He can handle it. The Psalms are full of David’s honest emotions, and yet, David always returned to praise. That brings us to step two.
2. Offer Him the sacrifice of praise
Hebrews 13:15 tells us to continually offer to God a “sacrifice of praise.” If you’ve ever been disappointed, you know how true this is. It takes intentional obedience to praise God when you don’t feel like it. But when you use your will instead of your emotions to praise Him for who He is, what He’s done, and what He will do, it shifts the atmosphere of your heart.
3. Step out on the water and walk with Him
In Matthew 14:22–31, Peter walked on water toward Jesus. But when he looked at the wind and waves, he began to sink. If your focus stays on your circumstances, you’ll sink too. But if you fix your eyes on Jesus, you’ll stay afloat no matter how impossible things seem.
Friend, I know how hard this is. I’m right there with you, walking through the biggest storm of my life. But God’s Word reminds us: “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26) and “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
So be encouraged. Jesus will never leave you or forsake you. He is with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
Let’s pray again.
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the precious one listening to this today. I pray that You would heal every place in their heart touched by disappointment. Wash them in the truth of Your love and the goodness of Your plans. Assure them with Your presence. Help them to surrender their pain and walk with You, eyes fixed on You. Strengthen their faith. Help them trust You again. Thank You for Your good and perfect will for each of us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I wrote this devotional several years ago during the biggest storm of my life. My husband had been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer and given a year to live. We went through a devastating season—multiple surgeries, radiation, and countless moments of bad news. I held onto faith that God would heal him. I prayed, believed, and hoped that the next scan would show a miracle. But instead, things got worse.
One morning, about ten months in, I woke from a dream and heard the audible voice of God. He said, “I’m going to rewrite what you think a good story is.” I’ve only heard His audible voice a couple of times in my life, and this was one of them. My heart sank. I knew God was preparing me for something I hadn’t imagined, and it wasn’t what I wanted.
The journey continued downward for several more months before we began to see signs of hope. And I want to tell you, my husband was ultimately healed. Praise God. But it did not happen the way I had planned or expected. It came through a path of pain, uncertainty, and surrender. And that path involved deep disappointment.
If you’re in that place—where things are not turning out as you had hoped—don’t harden your heart. Don’t lose faith. God is still writing your story, and He is good. He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. I felt His nearness during those dark days, and I promise you He will be near to you too.
You are going to come out of this stronger than you went in. Walk with Him. Trust Him. And watch Him do the impossible.
If you’d like to read more of our journey, my husband and I wrote a book called Finding God in the Fire. It’s available on Amazon and tells the full story of God’s faithfulness through unimaginable trials.
I love you, and I hope you have a wonderful day.
With Love,
Linda and the Help Club for Moms Team
I am passionate about helping women hear from God. This year has been an incredibly difficult one for our family, but in the fire of this trial, I have felt the love of God so much more intensely and personally than ever before. I have also found the beauty of seeking God's heart in a much deeper way. I want to know His heartbeat, see what He sees, hear what He hears, say what He says, do what He does, and make His perfect love known.
Come along with me on the adventure of a lifetime!
- Living a Lifestyle of Prayer: Have a Talk with God - November 16, 2025
- Living a Lifestyle of Prayer: What Do You Do with Disappointment - November 16, 2025
- Lunes de Maternidad con Deb y Linda: Dones Espirituales Parte 1 - July 21, 2025