Dealing with Disappointments
Hey friend! This post is part 2 of my Healing Through Creative Communion series—where I explore ways to process life and heal through creativity with God. If this one resonates with you, feel free to explore the other posts in the series!
I think most people hit a point in life where they wonder what their purpose is. When you have a relationship with Jesus, you’d think it would be easier to figure out. Yet everyone’s path isn’t always clear cut. For as long as I can remember, I desperately wanted to understand what I was made for. What on earth did God place me here for? The funny thing is that my purpose—while still unfolding and becoming clearer to this day—was also super obvious as a child. I was created to worship Him and create for Him. You could see the signs everywhere, and I knew it deep down.
As I neared adulthood, I made attempts. I auditioned for creative competitions (only to be passed over), joined my high school choir, signed up for dance classes multiple times, started a YouTube channel, left the comfort of a fully paid university to enroll in art school (only to drop out), tried MLM sales in the beauty industry, and attempted to start my own business a few times. You name it, I’ve probably tried it—and I probably still have some evidence lying around (looking at you, Cricut machine).
But I was the girl who started and couldn’t seem to finish. Maybe the money ran out, maybe life circumstances choked it out, maybe it wasn’t a good fit, or maybe I talked myself out of it because of fear. Either way, it felt like disappointment after disappointment.
When I think about disappointments—something we’ve all experienced—the scripture that almost immediately comes to mind is Proverbs 13:12. Here’s what the Amplified Version says:
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
I believe the opposite of disappointment is hope.
Everything I shared above about my purpose was my hope deferred—for way too long.
Here’s what I eventually realized: somewhere along the way, I believed I couldn’t do it. I grew up in a practical household (and I genuinely appreciate my parents for that). Safety and security in your career were drilled in. But I was a dreamer. I wouldn’t have survived in a “safe career.” So the real issue wasn’t figuring out my purpose. I wanted permission to believe I could actually succeed in being who God called me to be.
Every failed attempt—which was really more of a redirection—reinforced the lie that I wasn’t capable. I was split in half. I knew the truth of my calling while also believing the lie that success was impossible—so why keep trying? I became my own disappointment.
Disappointments usually happen because we expected something that didn’t turn out the way we hoped. It could be as small as wanting a certain birthday gift or as big as being denied a dream job, seeing another negative pregnancy test, or having someone important not show up when you needed them. If we don’t handle those unmet expectations the right way, they can create more issues along the way, eventually leading to bitterness and resentment stuck in our hearts, and us becoming our own obstacle to growth.
Now, you may be asking, “Why does hope become deferred (postponed) at times anyway?” There could be many reasons why this happens. But can I be honest? Hope being deferred is a choice we make. Yes, what you hoped for didn’t come (yet)—but who told you that there wasn’t something greater coming? The reality is that hope can’t survive when it’s rooted in something temporary. Psalm 37:4–5 (AMP) says,
Delight yourself in the Lord,
And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
Trust in Him also and He will do it.
So back to Proverbs 13:12—what do we do when hope is deferred and we’re waiting for desire fulfilled? First and foremost, we place our hope in Jesus. But that doesn’t mean you dismiss the desires, as long as they’re from God. The key is trusting Him throughout the process, as the verses in Psalm 37 above describe. And yes, that’s sometimes easier said than done.
What I can tell you is that who I was back then wasn’t ready to walk in (or even fully grasp) the purpose God had for me—not in the way I tried to convince myself and everyone else. God took me through my own process. And if you’re waiting on something, you’re probably being processed too. Romans chapter 5 gives us the perspective we need while we continue waiting for our hope to be made manifest:
3 And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Did you catch that? Hope does not disappoint. Hope is meant to turn into something tangible—faith (Hebrews 11:1), but first we have to persevere and be proven. So I want to encourage you. Your hope may be deferred, but your choice to keep moving forward—refusing to let disappointments stop you—becomes the water that helps that tree of life grow.
Here’s some other verses, Romans 8:24-25, that talk about hope:
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
God cares about your hope because it is faith in its infancy stages. If it’s cut off before it can grow, you won’t end up seeing the manifestation. And He desires more for your life than you can even comprehend.
As a quick reminder, here are the steps to enter into a time of creative communion with God:
Remove distractions and settle into rest.
Meditate on the Lord by reading His Word and playing instrumental worship music to remain at rest. Pray as you’re led but resist striving.
Receive from the Lord—ask Him what He wants you to create with Him.
Create with Him and pay attention to anything He says or shows you during your time with Him.
Creative Prompt:
Think about a specific disappointment you haven’t been able to shake.
• What do you imagine your life would be like if that disappointment didn’t happen?
• How can you trust God to revive that hope and allow it to grow into faith?
Draw, paint, write, or simply spend some time letting God speak to you about it.
If you have questions or want to share anything, feel free to email me at giselle@creatinghallelujahs.com or message me on Instagram @creatinghallelujahs. I check those regularly, and everything stays confidential unless you give permission to share.
My favorite creative tools:
Disclaimer: I linked some of my favorite tools below through Amazon affiliate links. If you use them, I may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you!)
Journaling pens
Sketchbook
Gouache paint
Paintbrushes
Paint markers
Gentle reminder: Don’t overthink the tools. Ask God what medium He wants to use today. For me it’s often paint—yours might be a pen, a sketchbook, or even your notes app.
