Articles
Disappointment
We all face disappointment in our lives. One type of disappointment that is often the
hardest to deal with is disappointment in other people’s decisions.
Jesus faced disappointments during his earthly ministry. One example, the story of the
rich young man, stands out. In Mark 10:17-31 we see this story unfold. The interaction with the
young man starts off so well, and so full of promise. He greets Jesus with great respect. “As He
was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good
Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17). Jesus talks to the young man
who seems to be a sincere, good, honest man who is genuine in his desire to do God’s will.
This particular passage says something that really stands out. “Looking at him, Jesus felt
a love for him and said to him,…” (Mark 10:21). The people that we are often hurt by the most,
or are disappointed by the most, are those that we care about the most. A spouse, child, family
member, or friend can impact us more profoundly and deeply than any stranger. Jesus cared for
this young man, He looked at him and loved him.
The young man came seeking the truth, but could not handle the answer that he received.
How often do we see good people, who seem genuine in their desire to know more about God,
turn away when they don’t like the answers they hear? Like Jesus, we can show the love of
Christ and teach people the truth about God’s word, but it’s up to them to decide how to respond.
I think that may be why this is so hard. We don’t have control. We feel powerless and often feel
there is nothing we can do. However, we can continue to love, we can continue to teach, we can
continue to pray. ~ Brad Tolbert
