What Are You Doing Here? | When People Disappoint Us | God’s Disappointment

 “All day long I opened my arms to a rebellious people. But they follow their own evil paths…”  Isaiah 65:2

If anyone understands disappointment with people, it is God Himself. Those are HIS words to Israel. He had formed a nation for Himself and showered them with promises, but they refused to obey Him. Comedian Ken Davis says: “I know why God created teenagers. He wanted us to find out what it feels like to create someone in your own image who denies your very existence!” There’s a lot of truth in that. For reasons known only to Him, God chose to create us so much like Him that we have the power to disappoint and hurt Him. He breathed His image into us, but gave us the choice to love Him or reject Him.

So, in what ways is God disappointed with people? He knows we’re all sinners, so evil people are no surprise to Him. God doesn’t express disappointment about those who never gave Him a second look, their judgement day is coming. So human mistakes don’t disappoint; He knows how frail we are (Ps. 103:13-14). Instead, His disappointment is with those who profess to love Him but live like they don’t, with those who once walked with Him but decided the world had more to offer. We all fail Him, so He made a way for restoration (1 John 1:9). But when we claim that He is our #1 but live as though He is #20, He is deeply disappointed. God sent His Son to suffer because of sin, so when we claim to know that but continue our disobedience, He is grieved. Christians who dishonor His name are God’s greatest disappointment.

Final Thought:  We have the power to disappoint the Lord God Almighty. We should take that very seriously (Rev. 3:14-19).
Prayer: Lord, I know I have disappointed you in the past, but am I disappointing you now? Are my choices honoring to you? You are patient with my weakness and failures, but won’t tolerate a sinful lifestyle. May my choices make you proud. Amen.