By Chris WittsFriday 16 Sep 2022Morning Devotions with Chris WittsFaithReading Time: 1 minute
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Transcript:
How widespread do you think are the feelings of disillusionment? Are many people unhappy and disillusioned? Well, it seems so sadly. Things don’t always turn out as we hoped, and people sometimes are not what they appear to be. Disillusionment is a feeling of disappointment that can stem from finding out that something isn’t as good as you thought it would be, or the low that can develop after a moment of exhilaration. It’s a part of life because no experience, no matter how good, is without diminishing returns and perfectly fulfils us every time, it just doesn’t work that way.
It is possible to let disillusionment rob you of all joy in the desire to try new things that enrich your life. And that can start to create other unpleasant problems that make things worse. Accept the fact that life is made up of valleys and mountaintop experiences.
Somethings obviously don’t live up to the hype; it can be a downer to us. We have high expectations, especially of those closest to us, and they let us down and then we feel disappointment. I read the comment used by Carl Phase. In his article recently, he says, “You would think that the more famous people are, the happier it would make them. After all, they’ve got fame, success, money and they’ve reached the fulfilment of their dreams. But no, that’s not what’s happening.”
Carl said that the New York columnist Cynthia Home all remembered a number of these stars and what they were like before they hit the limelight. And she said they thought the fame thing was going to make everything okay – personal happiness. But the disillusionment turned them howling and insufferable. Well, I guess it proves that money and fame will not always make you happy. And Carl Phase continues in his article. “The truth is, we were made to know and serve God, anything less- even fame – will not fill that hole.”
So after a certain amount of disappointments, the average person will become bitter, angry, disconnected and may even put the blame onto others. And many people try to deal with their intimidating feelings of disillusionment without depending on God and that will never work out. There is a wonderful verse in Psalm 42:11 – “Why my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him. My Saviour and my God.” Another of the psalmist writers said. “You, Lord, are all I have and you give me all I need.” Psalm 16:5.
Sure, other things may extend the happiness, but they certainly won’t be the main reason for it. When our joy becomes solely rooted in who God is and his plan for our lives. I think that’s when we start to transition from disillusionment to contentment. So if in life you are disillusioned with people or your own expectations of greater things, you might be disillusioned that God seems to not do what you want. Cheer up. God is about to do something good in your life. Consider how Jesus suffers alongside you.
He will be your strength and be your hope. And he can fill you with the Holy Spirit so that you want to live and face tomorrow. He gives us purpose. It clears your mind, makes our hearts feel his reality. So I believe that prayer is your biggest support here. Why is prayer important? Prayer is important for many reasons, but the reason we’re taking time to meditate and pray is because prayer is the way that all the things we believe in become our strength. “Prayer is the way that truth is worked into our heart to create new instincts, reflexes and dispositions.” That’s what Tim Keller said, and this means that as you spend time with God in genuine prayer, he will come to you with new thoughts and new inspiration, to lift you out of your feelings of being disappointed and disillusioned, for God knows your heart and your emotions and can give you supernatural grace to turn around to a more healthy way of thinking.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, there is a problem. The disillusionment problem, how quickly we can become disillusioned, disappointed, Lift our eyes, Lord to you, to greater things that have eternal value. And may I have the perseverance and the faith to keep trusting in you today, Amen.