How to Turn Disappointing into Amazing

When disappointment hangs on you like a cold, wet blanket, let creativity guide you back to amazing. Of all the negative emotions we deal with … fear, guilt, shame, sadness …. I think disappointment is the toughest one for me.

Maybe because disappointment is the opposite of hope.  Hope is what we have at the beginning of something.  Hope is full of possibilities and promises.  And when we get to the end and those possibilities and promises go unfulfilled, we are left with disappointment.

There is also a piece of disappointment that feels so unnecessary …. so avoidable.  If only I had done one more thing. Or done less of that other thing. Maybe things would have turned out differently.

For some reason, I find that I am able to push past fear.

Fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God.  Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

I’ve learned to accept God’s lavish forgiveness to overcome away guilt and shame.

He will again have compassion on us;  he will tread our iniquities underfoot.  You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 (ESV)

And my natural optimism bubbles up joy even during times of sadness.

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5 (ESV)

But disappointment can hang on me like a cold, wet blanket.

I have watched people I love face disappointments over the last several months,  and I’ve been inspired by the creative ways they have overcome and moved forward..  So here is what I’ve learned from them about turning disappointing into amazing.

Name the good and burn the rest

Laura and her family had a pretty rough year.  As they talked about what they liked and what they didn’t, the natural out flow was write down the bad stuff and burn it in their fire pit.

I love that they found some things to like among the disappointments.  It’s so easy to fix our eyes on all the bad stuff and forget that there were some truly amazing things that happened as well.  And all that bad stuff?  Well, it just becomes ashes to be swept out with the trash.

Laura said, “2017 kicked our tails but we’re purposing for 2018 to be a year of discipline, bravery and completion.”

Do something unexpected

When disappointments and difficulties come in a constant stream over several months, it can wear a girl down.  That’s how Melissa ended up sick and at home for several weeks, missing out on holiday fun and traditions. As she started to feel better, she went with her daughter and got the cartilage in her ear pierced.

“I just decided I needed to do something wild and crazy.  And since I don’t do that much wild and crazy, getting my cartilage pierced seemed like a good place to start and a good way to end this horrible month!”

Now, I might choose something a little less painful than Melissa did, but a change in routine, scenery or what’s expected of you can be just the jolt we need to put disappointment in its place.

Remember that God is Good

I learned this lesson from Lysa TerKeurst, and boy, has she walked it out.  She recently shared on Facebook,

“No matter what, I pray we will filter all of our experiences and all of our hopes and dreams through this truth: God is good. His plans are good. And one day He will make everything right in this broken world.”

This reminds me that if things don’t feel right today, I can have confidence that God is going to make it right in His way and in His way.  I don’t have to wallow in the disappointment, accepting it as the final destination.

If you are going through a season of disappointment and focusing on what could or should have been different, try one of these creative approaches that will move you towards amazing.  And share with us in the comments how you plan to get over the bad stuff, do something unexpected or remember God’s goodness in your seasons of disappointment.


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10 thoughts on “How to Turn Disappointing into Amazing”

  1. Good lessons here, I like the burning of the disappointments-may try that one out! Again, my time off at the end of the year was taken hostage by something much greater that needed to be done. But through the rough time that is was (and will continue to be) I was constantly award of God’s presence. We literally had an ongoing conversation it seemed and He saw me through with wisdom, patience and good decision making-all very much needed. God IS Good and I see it ALL the time-even in the disappointments. Thanks as always my friend!

    Reply
    • Oh I love that ongoing conversation. That’s really the only way we will see that God is good in ALL things. We have to be part of the conversation.

      Reply
  2. Christa, thanks for putting disappointment on the table. It’s a word that’s run often through my mind this past year, and God has been whispering love lessons to me in the process.

    Good to be your neighbor once again at Holley’s. Bless you!

    Reply
    • When I read this, I got the visual of God’s whispers into one ear pushing those disappointing thoughts out of your other ear! Thanks for stopping by. Your comments are always so thoughtful 🙂

      Reply

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