Handling Life’s Disappointments: Trusting God When Things Don’t Go as Planned

Handling Life’s Disappointments: Trusting God When Things Don’t Go as Planned

How do you react when life doesn’t go the way you hoped? Disappointment is something we all face, but how we handle it shapes our faith, perspective, and future.

This summer, I applied for a program I deeply wanted to be part of. When I submitted my application, I saw that I was applicant number 12,086. I thought, Well, at least I tried. Seeing the sheer number of applicants was overwhelming, but I knew my application was strong. Still, I wondered—just how strong?

Two months later, I received an email saying I was a finalist. I would have a Zoom interview as part of the final selection process. I was nervous but confident. I prayed—before I applied, after I applied, before the interview, and after the interview. I asked God for His guidance at every step. I was sure this was the path He had for me. When I made it to the finalist stage, I took it as confirmation that God was opening this door.

But then I received the rejection email. I was crushed. Disappointment hit me hard. I thought, This was the plan. I prayed about this plan. Why didn’t it work out?

In the midst of my disappointment, I remembered the advice I had given my daughter, Alyson, when she wasn’t accepted into nursing school on her first attempt. It’s much easier to give advice than to take it yourself. Now it was my turn to wrestle with what I had told her: sometimes we have to be okay when things don’t go our way. As a Christian, the hardest part for me was grappling with why, after praying for direction and believing this was the path God had for me, the door had been closed.

I asked God a lot of questions: What am I supposed to learn from this? What’s my next step? How do I handle my feelings of anger and disappointment? How do I continue trusting when I feel let down?

I don’t have all the answers, but here’s what I do know: God is faithful. He sees the end from the beginning, and His plan is always better than mine. I don’t understand why this path wasn’t the best for me, but I’m learning to be okay with not knowing. Faith isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about trusting the One who does.

So, how do we respond when life disappoints us? We lean on God’s promises, even when we don’t understand His plan. We remind ourselves that He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), and He is working all things for our good (Romans 8:28). Trusting God doesn’t mean we won’t feel disappointed; it means we bring that disappointment to Him and let Him guide us forward.

Disappointment is part of life, but it’s also an opportunity to grow in faith. God is still at work in your life, even when things don’t go as planned. Trust Him to lead you, even when the path is unclear. His plans are always for your good, (Jeremiah 29:11), even when they don’t look like your plans.