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01/02/2024 - 02/02/2024 All day

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” ( Psalm 107:1)

Jacob had a desire to marry Rachel whose father, Laban, tasked him to work for a good seven years first. However, once he was done he was in for a huge disappointment. The goal posts suddenly changed.  He was presented the older sister Leah in place. “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work” ( Genesis 29:26-27).

One can imagine the feeling of disappointment on the part of Jacob after his expectation. A disappointment has been described as that feeling of “sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfillment of one's hopes or expectations.” Whenever you have desired for something badly, only for it to fail to materialize, of course there is a disappointment.  Think of a child who anticipated to make a certain grade and go to a preferred school only to be turned down because of his grades or even more hurting, to be sold to another school!

Life is full of disappointments. A business person may have met all conditions to secure a tender only to be rejected for another bidder. A job applicant can be turned down even after meeting all qualifications. After a promise to deliver goods, one can be disappointed in another person who fails to come through, without a good explanation. A disappointment leaves one ever disenchanted.

How we react to a disappointment is one of the most important thing in life. In Uganda, there was a recent case of a child who failed to score a certain grade and took his life. A disappointment can leave one embittered and brooding. There are those who even lose faith because they believe God has let them down.
Jacob took his disappointment with a positive spirit. Instead of pouting, he let go and agreed to work for another seven years, to have Rachel (vv 30).

Having met several setbacks in his tumultuous life, King David wrote, “But I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation; I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me” ( Psalm 13: 5-6). Whenever faced with a disappointment, for they always do happen, choose as David did, to remain joyful for God will come through in due season.

Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where I encounter disappointment, may I look up to you, for my hope is in you, and you shall carry me through, this I pray in Jesus’ name.

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