fbpx
student ministry, youth worker, youth ministry

Live Free of Disappointment

By Doug Franklin September 21, 2011

One of the most terrifying words in the English language is “regret.” It is terrifying because we do not get a reset button, we can’t get back time. It is even more frightening when we realize that we’re not promised much time. James 4 says that our life is a “vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” In light of the fact that time is irreplaceable and limited, how should we live? Should we just coast and wait till it’s all over, or should we make the absolute most of this valuable resource? The former leads to disappointment, the latter leads to satisfaction and peace. To live free of disappointment we must live with excellence, continually improve, have integrity, dream big, and let go of past issues.

Excellence: Whatever you do, do it with excellence. Excellence is rare because it is not necessary.  You don’t need to have excellence to get by or to make most people satisfied. However, excellence speaks volumes about your character.  The things you do or create will speak when you are not around, make sure they have something good to say.

Improvement: Nobody’s perfect… very true but shouldn’t be used to dismiss all that it is used for in our society. Also, we have a way of letting ourselves settle for the “good enough.” People are just doing the same thing all the time, never trying to surpass expectations. Just doing enough to get by and keeping people happy isn’t really cutting it.

Dream Big: In life there are dreamers and there are drainers- the choice is yours to make. Will you be the one to explore the far reaches of a limitless Kingdom controlled by an omnipotent, loving God? Or, will you be one that drifts about as a slave to the urgent, never knowing the intimacy with which Jesus seeks after you and the trust He has for you in His work?

Integrity: Integrity is one of those words that is hard to define. We hear definitions that equate it to honesty and truthfulness. However, integrity is more than just honesty- it is a life lived in consistency to who you are and what you stand for. It is being one way and only one way regardless of circumstance or reward. It involves being the same regardless of whom you’re around. It is also being the same even when no one is around.

Lay to rest past issues: Disappointments in life are inevitable. We live in a fallen world where things are not as they should be. Everyone has past hurts and issues that can continually slow them down and stop them from going anywhere in the future. In order to be free from disappointment, we have to know how to deal with it when they come about. In order to life free from regret’s grip on us, we must know with our minds and hearts that God has forgiven us of our sins and that He can use everything in our lives for His purposes.

About the Author

Doug Franklin

Doug Franklin is the president of LeaderTreks, an innovative leadership development organization focusing on students and youth workers. Doug and his wife, Angie, live in West Chicago, Illinois. They don’t have any kids, but they have 2 dogs that think they are children. Diesel and Penelope are Weimaraners  who never leave their side. Doug grew up in…  Read More