When Someone Has Let You Down

I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.
(Hebrews: 13:5 HCSB)



When has someone let you down?

It is bound to happen, right? After all, we are human. We can’t read minds. We can’t be everywhere at once. We can’t wave a magic wand and make everything perfect.

Maybe the person that let you down is a family member. Maybe it was a friend. Maybe it was a co – worker. Maybe it is the church.

Maybe is something that left you wondering about the integrity of the other person. Often times, we put our trust or hope in another person, only to be let down in some way. Something is bound to get in the way, a distraction, a forgotten date, or we are simply overlooked.

Maybe it is something that happened a long time ago and you can’t shake it.

Maybe it something you have become accustomed to, so you have learned not to sweat it, yet deep down, the sting still hurts when memories resurface.

What do you do with these thoughts and feelings? Do you bury them deep inside allowing them to lay dormant, possibly never addressing the pain? Or do you go straight to the person, lay it out on the table and clear the air? We have all been there sometime or another in our life. No one can ever go through life, without feeling the repercussion from being let down in some way.

If we bury our feelings, we tend to let the hurt and pain grow, getting out of hand, thinking we are in control. If we attack the person with all vigor and might, we can make matters worse, by over reacting or possibly over stepping a boundary or two.

It is hard to say for sure, isn’t it? You know yourself better than anyone. So, you probably already know how you would address the situation. So, let me ask another question: How is that working for you?

I wonder, if we tried something different: What if we took it to God first? What if, as soon as we were feeling unease or disturbed, by another person’s actions or response, we went straight to God?

We are never alone. God takes His job seriously. If the matter is big or small, your problem is important to Him. God has promised to never leave you or forsake you. Man might, but God WILL not! If you may need to approach someone for resolution, ask God for wisdom and how to approach the person in which the conflict lies.

So, since we already know disappointment is bound to happen or that we may loose confidence in a person, should we give up? Should we put up wall of defense, so that we are never hurt again? Do we shut down, never trusting anyone enough to let our guard down? It is a fact of life. We will run across disappointment from time to time.

Is it asking too much for someone to follow through with a promise? Is it too much to ask that when person gives his word, he will stick to it?

Absolutely, not.

We should expect that a person remain loyal and true to a promise. However, when that doesn’t happen to our expectation, how do YOU handle it?

Do you forgive? Or do you stew? After all, if we held on to the anger or resentment from every time we may experience disappointment, the bondage would be so tight; we wouldn’t be able to breath. That doesn’t sound fun to me, at all.

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15

Remember, we are all human. We will be let down from time to time. We will experience a hurt feeling every now and then. We will be disappointed in another person. And yes, the road goes both ways. We will in turn do the same to another. We may forget. We may over look. We may not understand another’s persons needs and not know how to reach them.

What if it seems to happen over and over, especially with the same person? Are we to continue believing in someone that has proven over and over, that promises are easy to break? Ask God how to handle the relationship. Pray for discernment. Pray for wisdom. And pray for that person.

Do you take your disappointments to God? Do you share your feelings with Him? Do you explain your needs to have an understanding ear or a strong shoulder to offer encouragement? Do you ask God to bring you peace?

Life gets complicated. I have often heard this phrase. To have a friend, you must be a friend. Sometimes, that also means forgiving that friend, family, co – worker or the church for not meeting your expectations.

We are instructed that if a brother or sister sins against us, we are to go them privately and try to reconcile.

"If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. Matthew 18: 15.

We often get caught up in our emotions, we forget most importantly that God cares and loves us more than anything, anyone and especially understands us more than we understand ourselves.

Remember that God will never leave you or forsake you. You are never alone. He cares about you and especially wants you to trust in Him. And even the valleys of disappointments, we can always count on the one truth – God.

Prayers

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayers for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Psalm 116: 1-2 HCSB)


This may be the most impromptu thought I have every had and it certainly it the most unrehearsed idea that has come to me. Anyone that knows me well, knows that I'm a planner. I don't like surprises and I try to think over an idea before I act upon it. I am not one to step up to be seen and I certainly would never want to cause embarrassment to another person.

With that being said, as I was getting ready for work this morning I began to wonder about this prayer idea. I don't know about you, but sometimes I have a hard time praying. Of course Satan loves that idea. Whatever you are forgetting to do, it will certainly come to you once you sit down, determined to spend a few moments with God. Every thought, every distraction will fill your mind. You begin with best intentions, but before you know it, the mind has wondered off to the laundry or what bill has to be paid. It strays to the movie you watched the night before and try to guess how many times hearing the 'f' word is enough? Satan is tricky like that. He draws you away. He puts ill and ugly thoughts in your mind, keeping you from talking to your Father.

I know this happens to me. So, as I was getting my things prepared this morning and thinking about what the day will entail, I also had this thought: What if when I set out to pray, I had direct and certain prayers to keep me on track, so that my mind wouldn't wonder and be distracted? I began thinking about all those that I know and perhaps don't know that could use a little extra prayer sent up on their behalf.

I began thinking about anyone that has ever been hurt, mentally, physically or sexually abused and can't seem to shake the memories and go forward. I began to think about the families that may be suffering financially and are the verge of having a utility turned off or even loosing their home. I thought about the single moms that is either holding down a job or furthering her education to better things for herself and children. I thought about the man that has disability and feels unworthy because he can not provide for his wife and children as he once could. I think about the student that wonders if she will make it through course and actually graduate. I think about the family that is going through personal struggles that stays behind closed doors, wondering if it will ever get any better? I think about the parent that has lost a child and the sting of pain never seems to go away. I think about person that lost a spouse and now has to carry on alone, without the companion he or she shared so much. I think about that loved one struggling with an addiction and we just don't know how to help. I think about the person that has questions and wants to know more about Jesus, but doesn't know who or how to go about getting the answers. I think about those that don't know Him at all and would rather be in a pit of rattlesnakes than to be interesting in a Savior.


God doesn't want us to stay in a pit. God wants us to be joyful people, rejoicing in His word, living every moment that we can with a smile on our hearts and on our face.

I don't know what all to pray for or who needs them, but God does. So, this is my pledge. I WILL pray for you! I am not in the embarrassing business, so no matter what you choose to share, I promise it will remain between you and God. I will pray for you and I hope that you will feel and receive the prayers.

If you want to email me with any thing specific, I welcome you to and again I promise I will not embarrass or reveal anything that you share.

You can send me a personal email through Facebook or to my personal email at taxzcab@gmail.com.

I am your friend. I am here. I will pray for you. I don't have the answers, but God does. Sometimes it just takes that first step in handing it over to Him, letting go of whatever you are holding so tightly too and allow the creator of our world and universe to do His thing. He is there, ready, able and willing. We just have to be able to recognize that no matter how strong or special we are, God has the ultimate control. He loves you and wants the best for you and your everyday life.

Know that without a doubt that even if you don't know Him, He knows you.

My prayer for you today is relax in that thought. Relax in knowing that nothing is bigger than God. Relax and be assured that you are here because God wants you be and no matter what you are facing, you never have to go about it alone.