As children of God, we have access to hope. But ours is the kind of hope that bids us to place our confidence in God’s ability, not our own.

This type of hope is powerful. It has roots in eternity and is a natural extension of our faith. Yet all too often we forget the basis of our hope, and instead, narrow our focus on shortsighted and shallow expectations only to find that what we desire is delayed or denied. When this happens we experience the great divide of disappointment.

Take a moment to check yourself. Where has disappointment set up camp and caused you to lose hope in a particular area of your life? What have you given up on because of unfulfilled expectations?

Disappointment is an inevitable by-product of life. A burden that weighs heavy on our soul. In some instances, we feel as though people have failed us. Or worse yet, that God has failed us. As a result, we lose confidence and suffer a deep-seated pain that causes us to wrestle with our faith.

Inherently, hope has a built-in waiting period. A placeholder for potential. A pause that provides space for desire to define, or even redefine, expectations. Yet, this unfortunate caveat is hard to appreciate in the moment because we don’t like to wait. 

Habakkuk 2:3 assures us there is purpose in the pause; “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

Here, we see this sacred space as an opportunity for God to expand our field of vision. To see beyond the fray of what is to what can be. But it takes trust to pursue His plan, especially in the face of difficult disappointments.

Hoping in Him, and Him alone empowers us to see beyond what our circumstances allow. Doing so makes room for God to produce divine dividends such as power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:6-7). These are the measures by which we test and prove the presence of hope working in us and through us.

Perhaps it’s time to dream a new dream. Get in His Word. Pray through the pain. Thank Him for seeing what you can’t, knowing what you don’t, and doing what you won’t. 

It will take courage to endure the wait and not give up hope. To believe that God wants to fulfill the deep longing of your soul. But it may look different than the expectations of yesterday. 

So take heart and wait on God. Trust Him even if you don’t understand what He’s doing or why. Cross swiftly the great divide of disappointment and allow your heart to hope again. 

Remember, you are not alone. Be blessed as you cross the great divide of disappointment and discover a new, more meaningful, hope.