I had to think back to my teenage years for this blog. For most things from my teenage years, it is difficult to remember the details of excitement surrounding certain events. Prom, I know it was great, I remember the dress I wore, but who all went with us, what car did we take, where was the prom, where did we go afterwards?? I am just not sure of these specific details. School, I remember the good times, I remember the papers I wrote, the classes I hated, all of the information I learned though I am not too sure about. In fact I think I told myself to forget if ice cubes are a solid or a liquid…it worked because I still am not too sure. But certain things I can try to forget but I never will be able to. The disappointments that I went through in my teenage years, I remember them all. I can tell you very specific details of just about every disappointment I faced as a teenager. I am sure you can think of several disappointments you have gone through or are going through right now.
When disappointments come into our lives they cause so much pain and hurt. But, when you are finally able to look back on them you can be thankful for those disappointments and where they brought you-closer to God.
How many of you desire to be close to God? How many of you desire to hear from God? How many of you desire to feel love from God every moment of every day? I know when I was your age, I desired those things. I would hear older, wiser women talking about their time with God and what He spoke to them, and I always wondered how to get that with God. Yes I want to hear from God, but he is not talking to me. I believed that because I was younger than the women who I heard these tales from God was unable to communicate with me and be close to me. What a lie-if we open our hearts to God no matter what age we are God will make Himself known to us, we will feel His presence.
If I really think about why these women were able to hear from God and I was not I believe I know the answer. It was how I was handling my disappointments when I was younger. I was trying to fix all of my problems on my own. I was not asking God for help through the pain, I was hiding it all inside. There were even times I was disappointed in God because of the trials I was constantly going through. By taking God out of the equation for fixing disappointment I was pulling myself further away from God. I was making it impossible to hear from Him. I was avoiding hearing from Him simply because I thought I could not. I did not know God was capable of helping me.
Do you believe God is able to help you? Romans 8:26 insures He does!
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
One thing we can be certain of is that disappointments will come our way. There is no way to avoid disappointments in this world. But, take heart because God has OVERCOME THE WORLD. When disappointments do come into your life, ask God for help. Tell Him your desires to grow closer to Him and to feel His presence more through this disappointment. Use this disappointment to hear from God. Instead of turning away from God, run into Him will all of your strength, help, and love.
When I look back on each disappointment I do not feel pain, I see God working to make my life just how he intends it to be. I see the Lord’s love in each one of the trials I have been through. I get to experience HIS comfort. I am thankful that what was intended to cause me pain, God used to bring me closer to HIS comforting arms. Just a little fun fact for you: an ice cube (not melted) is a solid.
Let’s Pray: Lord, I thank you so much for each one of these girls in this study. I ask that you make yourself known to them. I pray that they are able to see YOU and feel YOUR comfort, and know YOUR help in the midst of disappointments. I ask that you use these painful times in our lives to draw us closer to you. Thank you for praying for us when we are just not able to. We love you so much and we thank you for each disappointment we face, because we trust you are there through them with us, each step of the way. AMEN.
Much Love,
Diane
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About Diane Meyers
oh.my. diane, thank you. thanks for reminding us of our true perspective when disappointments come…'cause they will come…and where to put our feelings, our emotions, our hearts. we need God's help in all of this!!! and He is so willing to give it… whether you are a teen, a young adult woman (like you, diane) or an older woman (like me). God sees us all in the same way: His precious daughters Who He loves unconditionally! <3
I love that, He sure does see us all the same way, precious daughters who need HIM so desperately:)
Thank GOD He has bigger plans for us than we could ever even dream of!!! Such an amazing promise to meditate on today! Thank you, Diane, for this great post! <3
Yes, HIS blessings far exceed our expectations:)