We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.

How hard something is often depends on your vantage point.

I think C. S. Lewis said it best: "We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."1

But disappointment isn't proof that God is withholding good things from us. Sometimes it's His way of leading us Home.

When things are going wrong, praise Him anyway! Thank Him in advance for the good He will surely bring from all situations (Romans 8:28).

Sometimes hardship happens not because of what you've done but because of something God is doing.

One rejection after another did quite a number on my heart. And each new rejection didn't just add hurt; it multiplied the pain that was already there. That accumulation created a dark feeling of hopeless defeat.

My feelings and my faith will almost certainly come into conflict with each other. My feelings see rotten situations as absolutely unnecessary hurt that stinks. My soul sees it as fertilizer for a better future. Both these perspectives are real. And they yank me in different directions with never-ending wrestling. To wrestle well means acknowledging my feelings but moving forward, letting my faith lead the way.

Heartbreaking seasons can certainly grow me but were never meant to define me. I let go of the hurt and embrace the growth the minute I'm able to say, "Yet not what I will, but what You will.

Finding the gentle middle between exploding and stuffing can be hard, but God is working on me. How about you?

The enemy uses disappointments to cause so much trouble in an unsettled heart. A heart hungry for something to ease the ache of disappointment is especially susceptible to the most dangerous forms of desire.

There is purpose to this process. Yes, the process will be so messy, so full of slime and mud and mire and cries for help that you can't help but wonder whether they are being heard or not. They are. As I said before, God isn't far off. He's just far more interested in your being prepared than in your being comfortable.