Finding Hope and Purpose in Disappointment

 

Summary

In today's message, I invite you to bring your deepest disappointments to God and embrace a promise that can transform your life. This promise is not just about comfort but about finding meaning and purpose in every circumstance. I shared stories of individuals facing severe trials, yet they find strength and joy through their relationship with God. This is the essence of the Beatitudes, where Jesus redefines who is truly blessed. Contrary to worldly standards, those who seem least likely to be blessed are precisely the ones who can experience the fullness of God's kingdom.

Dallas Willard's insights remind us that the Beatitudes speak to those who are crushed, broken, and marginalized. The promise is that "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal." This hymn, written by Thomas Moore, encapsulates the gospel's message of hope and healing. Regardless of our circumstances, Jesus offers us the present blessedness of His kingdom. This promise is available to everyone, even those we might consider the least deserving. The kingdom of God is open to all, and we are called to extend grace and love to everyone, just as Jesus did.

The story of Jonah and the Ninevites illustrates that God's grace is not limited by our prejudices. We cannot shrink God to fit our biases. The kingdom is for the foolish, weak, and despised, and it is through these that God reveals His power. The Beatitudes are not a list of spiritual giants but a call to the common people to be the light of the world. Whatever disappointment you face, remember that heaven can heal it. The condition we all seek is found in a transforming friendship with Jesus. Come to the mercy seat, bring your broken heart, and let God offer His love and blessing. Keep going, don't quit, and look for ways to serve others with Jesus by your side.

Key Takeaways:

1. The promise of God's kingdom is not just for comfort but for finding meaning and purpose in every circumstance. It invites us to bring our deepest disappointments to God and trust in His transformative power. [00:31]

2. The Beatitudes redefine who is truly blessed, highlighting that those who seem least likely to be blessed are precisely the ones who can experience the fullness of God's kingdom. This challenges us to see beyond worldly standards. [02:08]

3. "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal" is a profound truth that offers hope and healing to all, regardless of circumstances. This promise is available now, not just in the afterlife, through a relationship with Jesus. [04:46]

4. God's grace is not limited by our prejudices, as illustrated by Jonah's story. The kingdom is open to all, even those we might consider the least deserving, challenging us to extend grace and love to everyone. [07:40]

5. The Beatitudes call the common people to be the light of the world, emphasizing that the kingdom of God is for the foolish, weak, and despised. This reminds us that God's power is revealed through those who seem insignificant. [09:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:31] - Identifying Disappointments
- [00:45] - Promise of Meaning and Purpose
- [01:02] - Stories of Strength in Trials
- [01:54] - Redefining Blessedness
- [02:39] - Dallas Willard's Insights
- [03:53] - Earth Has No Sorrow
- [04:46] - Present Blessedness
- [05:13] - Thomas Moore's Hymn
- [06:19] - Friendship with Jesus
- [06:53] - God's Grace for All
- [07:40] - Jonah and the Ninevites
- [08:24] - The Common People as Light
- [09:09] - The Promise Today
- [10:13] - Serving with Jesus

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 5:3-12 (The Beatitudes)
2. Jonah 3:1-10 (Jonah and the Ninevites)
3. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (God choosing the foolish and weak)

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Observation Questions:

1. In Matthew 5:3-12, who does Jesus describe as blessed, and how does this contrast with worldly standards? [02:08]

2. How does the story of Jonah and the Ninevites illustrate God's grace being extended beyond human prejudices? [07:40]

3. According to 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, why does God choose the foolish and weak things of the world? How does this relate to the Beatitudes? [08:39]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate individuals finding strength and joy through their relationship with God despite severe trials? [01:02]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How do the Beatitudes redefine what it means to be blessed, and what implications does this have for how we view our own circumstances? [02:08]

2. In what ways does the story of Jonah challenge our understanding of who deserves God's grace? How might this affect our interactions with others? [07:40]

3. How does the promise that "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal" offer hope in the present, not just in the afterlife? [04:46]

4. What does it mean to be the "light of the world" as common people, according to the Beatitudes? How does this challenge societal views of significance? [09:09]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a disappointment you are currently facing. How can you bring this to God and seek His transformative power in your life? [00:31]

2. Think of someone in your life who seems unlikely to be blessed by worldly standards. How can you extend grace and love to them this week, as Jesus did? [07:40]

3. "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal" is a profound truth. How can you remind yourself of this promise in your daily struggles? [04:46]

4. Consider a time when you felt marginalized or insignificant. How can the message of the Beatitudes encourage you to see your value in God's kingdom? [02:08]

5. Identify a prejudice or bias you hold. How can you work to overcome this and see others as God sees them, especially those you might consider the least deserving? [07:40]

6. How can you cultivate a "quietly transforming friendship with Jesus" in your daily life? What specific steps can you take to deepen this relationship? [06:19]

7. Reflect on a way you can be the "light of the world" in your community. What practical actions can you take to serve others with Jesus by your side? [10:13]

Devotional

Day 1: Finding Purpose in Disappointment
In life, we often encounter deep disappointments that can leave us feeling lost and purposeless. However, the promise of God's kingdom invites us to bring these disappointments to Him, trusting in His transformative power to find meaning and purpose in every circumstance. This is not merely about seeking comfort but about discovering a deeper significance in our trials. By surrendering our burdens to God, we open ourselves to His guidance and the possibility of a renewed perspective. Embracing this promise allows us to see beyond our immediate struggles and recognize the potential for growth and transformation. [00:31]

Isaiah 61:3 (ESV): "To grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified."

Reflection: What is one disappointment you are currently facing? How can you invite God into this situation to help you find meaning and purpose?


Day 2: Redefining Blessedness
The Beatitudes challenge our understanding of who is truly blessed by highlighting that those who seem least likely to be blessed are precisely the ones who can experience the fullness of God's kingdom. This perspective encourages us to look beyond worldly standards and recognize the value in those who are marginalized, broken, or crushed. By embracing this redefinition of blessedness, we are called to extend grace and love to everyone, just as Jesus did. This shift in perspective allows us to see the beauty and potential in every individual, regardless of their circumstances. [02:08]

1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are."

Reflection: Who in your life might you have overlooked or underestimated? How can you begin to see them through the lens of God's kingdom and extend grace to them today?


Day 3: Healing Through Heaven's Promise
The profound truth that "Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal" offers hope and healing to all, regardless of circumstances. This promise is not reserved for the afterlife but is available now through a relationship with Jesus. By embracing this truth, we can find solace and strength in the midst of our struggles, knowing that God's healing power is at work in our lives. This perspective encourages us to lean on our faith and trust in God's ability to bring restoration and wholeness to our brokenness. [04:46]

Psalm 147:3 (ESV): "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Reflection: What sorrow or pain are you currently experiencing? How can you invite Jesus into this area of your life to experience His healing and comfort?


Day 4: Embracing God's Unbiased Grace
The story of Jonah and the Ninevites illustrates that God's grace is not limited by our prejudices. The kingdom is open to all, even those we might consider the least deserving. This challenges us to extend grace and love to everyone, regardless of our biases or preconceived notions. By embracing this perspective, we align ourselves with God's heart and become conduits of His love and grace to the world around us. This requires us to examine our own biases and seek to love others as Jesus did, without reservation or judgment. [07:40]

Acts 10:34-35 (ESV): "So Peter opened his mouth and said: 'Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.'"

Reflection: Are there any biases or prejudices you hold that might hinder you from extending God's grace to others? How can you begin to overcome these barriers and love others more fully?


Day 5: The Power of the Common People
The Beatitudes call the common people to be the light of the world, emphasizing that the kingdom of God is for the foolish, weak, and despised. This reminds us that God's power is revealed through those who seem insignificant. By embracing our own weaknesses and limitations, we open ourselves to be used by God in powerful ways. This perspective encourages us to step into our calling as lights in the world, trusting that God can work through us to bring about His purposes. [09:09]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: In what ways do you feel weak or insignificant? How can you allow God to use these areas of your life to shine His light to those around you?

Quotes


I want to invite you right now to identify a disappointment in your life as best you can tell the primary one that you carry in your heart right now and bring it to God and I want to bring to you into me a promise to claim to build a life around not just to give you a greater sense of comfort although it will do that but to persevere to continue to take action to fill your life and your day with meaning. [00:00:21]

I had lunch just a little over a week ago with someone who is becoming a friend, and he is paralyzed from the neck down, went through a horrible accident, and then after that his wife left him and said terrible things about him made up stories about him and other things going on with his family that were just very very difficult and he wanted to meet to encourage me he wanted to know how how do people do that. [00:01:15]

And what he basically does is to take a look at people who the world says not them, can't be them and says no actually it is them when the kingdom of God comes to them when they decide through becoming a friend with me to live together with God then purpose and meaning and joy in life is available precisely to the people that the world says it's not available to you. [00:02:01]

Then there are the seriously crushed ones the flunk outs and the dropouts and the burnouts the broken the broken the drug heads and the divorced the HIV positive and the herpes written the brain damaged the incurably ill really the baron and the pregnant too many times or at the wrong time the overemployed the underemployed the unemployed the unemployable the swindled the shoved aside the replaced the parents with children living in the street the lonely the incompetent the stupid the emotionally starved or emotionally dead and on and on and on. [00:03:01]

Is it true that Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal? Pause there for a moment I didn't know about this line it's from A Hymn which I don't ever remember having sung growing up written a couple hundred years ago called Come Ye disconsolate communist counselor people who have no apparent consolation no place to find comfort all you who languish here at the mercy seat that's where God says at the seed of Mercy fervently kneel here bring your broken heart tell all your anguish Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal that's the promise that's the claim. [00:03:45]

That is precisely the gospel of Heaven's availability that comes to us through the Beatitudes Earth has no sorrow whatever it is whatever you have gone through or are going through that heaven cannot heal and you don't have to wait till you're dead Jesus offers to all such people as these the present blessedness of the present Kingdom regardless of circumstances. [00:04:46]

The condition of Life sought by human beings Through the Ages is attained in the quietly transforming friendship of Jesus, not money, not good looks, not success, not reputation, and then we go even deeper, even the moral disasters will be received by God as they come to rely on Jesus count on him make their companion in his kingdom. [00:06:23]

Murderers child molesters the brutal the bigoted drug lords pornographers war criminals and sadists terrorists the perverted and the filthy and the Filthy Rich can't we feel some sympathy for Jesus contemporaries who huffed at him this man is cordial descenders and even eats with them sometimes I feel I don't really want the kingdom to be open to such people. [00:06:55]

As Jonah learn from his experience preaching to those wretched ninevites we can't shrink God down to our size Jonah so badly didn't want the ninevites to be saved that when he finally went there to preach to him he delivered the worst sermon in the history of the world 40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown we're told in the Book of Jonah rather comically that's the whole sermon don't even talk about God doesn't call him to repent no clever little illustrations just 40 days everybody's getting it and they turn to God and they repented. [00:07:38]

But here are the foolish weak lowly despised of the world whom God has chosen to cancel out the humanly great among them indeed are a few of the humanly wise the influential and the socially Elite they belong here to God is Not disturbed by them God's willing to accept even them but the Beatitudes is not even a list of spiritual Giants it is the common people the little people to whom Jesus says you're the light of the world you are the salt of the earth. [00:08:36]

Whatever disappointment you're identifying in your life in your marriage or you're not being married or your loss of a marriage or your children or you're not having children or your loss of a child in your work in the death of a dream Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal and it begins now the condition that everybody is searching for is found in the quietly transforming friendship of Jesus. [00:09:12]

So come to the mercy seat right now take a moment tell him you're anguish bring him your broken heart let God offer you right now his love and his Blessing and you keep going today you do not quit you look for him beside you you ask in the midst of the disease that is racking your body or the accident that keeps you paralyzed a prisoner in a chair or whatever it is that you're going through you ask now how can I and my friend Jesus help other people today. [00:09:39]

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Transcript
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