“Out of my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free and in a larger place. It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust and take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (Psalm 118:5, 8-9).
Disappointment with one another is an inevitable part of human relationships. Within our relationships it is impossible to satisfy all the secret or open desires of our family members, friends, or colleagues. One person in a relationship often works hard to please and not disappoint, while the other person in that relationship makes other people responsible for his or her needs, happiness, feelings, or boredom with life. This is called codependence, and if it is not dealt with, it will hinder both people from growing and finding satisfaction in healthy relationships.
When someone disappoints us, we must recognize as false the notion that any person-even a wonderful person-can meet all our desires. We must accept the truth that only God can fill the deep needs of our hearts. As we sense our disappointment with a person, we must talk to God about our feelings and work on gradually letting it go and forgiving. This allows room for God to give us emotional support and to set us free from the emotions of anger and hurt attached to the disappointment, as He transports us into a spiritually larger and more satisfying place.
Relationships can be rewarding when both people work equally on loving, caring, and giving to one another. Yet even in the best relationships there will be disappointments. When it happens, run to the Lord first and trust Him. He will not let us down but will turn our distress into peace and show us the direction to take in developing healthy relationships.
