What does one do when their hopes and dreams get shattered? What should one do to move forward from disappointment on to new hopes?
These were the questions I asked myself when I heard about a disappointing setback. A friend of mine and her family were going to team up with us on some of our volunteer projects. I was very much looking forward to it, but in the end, much to my dismay, it didn’t work out.
When I heard the news, a quote popped into my mind: “The future is as bright as the promises of God.” That sounded nice, but what promises? I was reminded of several Bible verses: “All things work together for good to those who love God.” 1 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” 2 “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” 3 “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’” 4
As I started pondering each of these verses, new hope flooded my soul. My mind went from an array of dark gray tones to a bright and fully colored vivid image: this situation isn’t the end of the road, neither for me, nor for them. God knows the big picture, and He has something wonderful in store for all.
True, the development was disappointing for me. But when I filtered it through God’s promises, I was able to see a completely fresh new leaf turning for my friend and her family—a page full of new and awesome possibilities. Excitement started welling up inside me and I couldn’t wait to hear of the wonderful opportunities that would open up for them.
This incident taught me that if we allow disappointment to cloud our eyes, our outlook becomes bleak, and it is difficult to see the future with faith and confidence. But if we let the rays of God’s promises shine into our minds, they create a light show that turns every shadow inside out. New hope starts forming, creating a positive blueprint for the future. Our positive, hopeful outlook enables us to see possibilities, and we can step out with confidence into brighter tomorrows.