Disappointment
Read Genesis 4:3-7
“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked him. “Why do you look so dejected?” Vs. 6
Disappointment comes to us in many ways. We begin to learn about it from a very early age. We all know how a two year old responds to the disappointment of not getting his own way – he throws a tantrum. He makes his anger very clear. Hopefully as we grow up our response to disappointment becomes more mature and we learn to look for lessons that we can learn so we use disappointment as an aid to growth. However, sometimes we do hold onto our anger and cover it so well that sometimes it is even hidden from ourselves.
In these verses we see God giving Cain a helping hand, as it were, to learn a lesson from his disappointment. Cain was disappointed because God had not accepted his offering of produce but he had accepted his brother Abel’s sacrifice of a lamb from his flock. There is nothing in the preceding chapters of Genesis to tell us that a blood sacrifice was what was required but later it is made quite clear (Exodus 30:10), so we can probably assume that Cain and Abel were aware of God’s requirements. Vegetables just would not do, but God gives Cain the opportunity to put things right. He warns him in verse 7 that if he doesn’t do what is right sin is waiting to pounce.
A right response to God is always key to our peace and joy. But to get angry and stay angry is dangerous. It opens the door for Satan to attack us and destroy us – probably hurting others along the way. Ephesians 4:26 says, Be angry, but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (paraphrase).
Anger is often the natural response to disappointment but God warned Cain to get over it and respond correctly so that sin would not have an opportunity to attack and destroy him. We know from reading further that, sadly, Cain did not choose to heed God’s warning, but allowed the anger to control him, with the result that he murdered his own brother. This awful sin brought with it awful consequences which brought misery to Cain and his loss of fellowship with God (vs 16).
Have you struggled with disappointment? Perhaps disappointment with a relative or friend, or even disappointment with God for allowing something to happen to you. Are you still angry? Can you bring that anger to God today and ask Him to use the disappointment to teach you a valuable life lesson, or cause you to grow in the fruit of the Spirit – perhaps love, patience or joy (James 1:2-4). God shows us the right was to handle disappointment but we have to choose whether to follow His way.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, would you help me to handle my disappointments in the right way. Would you help me to use them as opportunities to grow. Please show me any area in my life where I may be giving sin an opportunity to destroy or rob me of your best, and help me to respond correctly. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Read Genesis 4:3-7
“Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked him. “Why do you look so dejected?” Vs. 6
Disappointment comes to us in many ways. We begin to learn about it from a very early age. We all know how a two year old responds to the disappointment of not getting his own way – he throws a tantrum. He makes his anger very clear. Hopefully as we grow up our response to disappointment becomes more mature and we learn to look for lessons that we can learn so we use disappointment as an aid to growth. However, sometimes we do hold onto our anger and cover it so well that sometimes it is even hidden from ourselves.
In these verses we see God giving Cain a helping hand, as it were, to learn a lesson from his disappointment. Cain was disappointed because God had not accepted his offering of produce but he had accepted his brother Abel’s sacrifice of a lamb from his flock. There is nothing in the preceding chapters of Genesis to tell us that a blood sacrifice was what was required but later it is made quite clear (Exodus 30:10), so we can probably assume that Cain and Abel were aware of God’s requirements. Vegetables just would not do, but God gives Cain the opportunity to put things right. He warns him in verse 7 that if he doesn’t do what is right sin is waiting to pounce.
A right response to God is always key to our peace and joy. But to get angry and stay angry is dangerous. It opens the door for Satan to attack us and destroy us – probably hurting others along the way. Ephesians 4:26 says, Be angry, but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (paraphrase).
Anger is often the natural response to disappointment but God warned Cain to get over it and respond correctly so that sin would not have an opportunity to attack and destroy him. We know from reading further that, sadly, Cain did not choose to heed God’s warning, but allowed the anger to control him, with the result that he murdered his own brother. This awful sin brought with it awful consequences which brought misery to Cain and his loss of fellowship with God (vs 16).
Have you struggled with disappointment? Perhaps disappointment with a relative or friend, or even disappointment with God for allowing something to happen to you. Are you still angry? Can you bring that anger to God today and ask Him to use the disappointment to teach you a valuable life lesson, or cause you to grow in the fruit of the Spirit – perhaps love, patience or joy (James 1:2-4). God shows us the right was to handle disappointment but we have to choose whether to follow His way.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, would you help me to handle my disappointments in the right way. Would you help me to use them as opportunities to grow. Please show me any area in my life where I may be giving sin an opportunity to destroy or rob me of your best, and help me to respond correctly. In Jesus’ name. Amen
posted by Daydrops For You at
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