Disappointment

My husband and I are currently reading 2 Samuel in our Bible reading plan, and today we read chapter 7. According to Skip Heitzig, a teacher we follow, understanding this chapter is critical to understanding the rest of the Bible. We must comprehend the Davidic covenant, God’s promise to King David of the lasting dynasty of his throne. This promise is repeated throughout the Bible.

In the beginning of the chapter, David confided in Nathan the prophet that he felt badly because he lived in a nice home, yet God lived in a curtained tent. He wished to build a permanent home for God, and Nathan erroneously advised him to do what he desired because God was with the king. However, God later corrected Nathan’s guidance. God had never asked for anyone to build Him a house, and He denied David’s request to do so.

At the same time though, God promised that He would build a house, a lasting dynasty, for David. God’s covenant included providing David a son, Solomon, who would build the Temple, and the throne of Solomon’s kingdom would be eternal. Even though David would be disciplined for his sins, God’s lovingkindness would always be with him, and his house, kingdom, and throne would be eternal.

David had a heart for God and wanted to do something to show his love and devotion to God by building the Temple. His proposal to do so was not ill-intentioned or sinful, but it did not align with God’s will. It is likely that David felt disappointment over not being able to fulfill the desire of his heart. But I love how David handled this disappointment. The Bible does not record David as sorrowful or angry. He did not say rash words or blame others. He did not behave as if he were entitled to the privilege of building God’s Temple. David did not make the moment about himself, but instead, he submitted to God’s will, listened to His promises, and made the moment about God.

In verse 18, we see that David sat before the Lord and began to praise Him in a style that should feel familiar from reading David’s Psalms. David asked, “Who am I?” that the Lord had brought him as far as He had. David recognized God’s sovereignty, and he delighted in the promises God made to him. In David’s language throughout the chapter, you can feel David worshipping God and rejoicing.

“For this reason, Thou art great, O Lord God; for there is none like Thee, and there is no God besides Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.” 2 Samuel 7:22

Like David, we also have dreams and aspirations. They may or may not be for the purpose of serving the Lord. They may be well-intentioned, thoughtful, and morally-sound plans. We may pray about them and beseech God in Jesus’ name. However, if our desires do not align with God’s will, our plans will fall short. It is not always easy to understand in the moment, but God has another plan for our lives, one that aligns with His will. God is completely trustworthy. If we can trust Him with our eternity, we can trust Him with the smaller details of this earth.

“The measure of spiritual maturity is what it takes to steal our joy.”

Although I am not certain who originally quoted that, it resonates deeply with me. When we suffer a disappointment, the derailment of our plans, instead of letting it steal our joy, we could take a lesson from David and apply it to our lives. It is understandable to feel disappointment, but we need to remember that we are not entitled to anything, and we are to submit to God’s will. We need to step back and, in quiet time with God, remember to praise Him for who He has been, who He is, and who He always will be.

As David says, there is no God like Him. He is merciful, compassionate, and full of lovingkindness for us; He loves us so much, He wants eternity with us if we will trust in Him and His Son as our Savior. It is important to remember this and trust Him with all the small details of our lives. Praise Him for all He has done and thank Him for the eternal security He has promised us through our faith in Jesus. Ask Him to help you manage the disappointment you might feel, and then trust in His plan for your life.

Jeanne-Marie Witmer

Jeanne-Marie Witmer, Daughter of the King, is a wife and a mother to a teenage son. She wants to encourage women to have meaningful relationships by first having a meaningful relationship with Jesus. Jeanne-Marie understands the transformative work of Christ when we repent and submit to Him so that He can work in our lives. She would like to share what she's learned to help other women find hope and healing in Christ, and she prays that her written words glorify God. When not busy homeschooling, spending time with family and friends, or writing; Jeanne-Marie enjoys photography and many crafts and hobbies.