Finding Hope in Disappointment: Jesus' Compassion and Timing

May 25, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: God Lifts Us from the Depths and Brings Joy

When life pulls us down—through family struggles, work, health, our own sin, or the pain caused by others—God is the one who lifts us out of despair. Even when we feel overwhelmed or defeated, He hears our cries for help, brings healing, and turns our mourning into joy. His anger is momentary, but His favor and love endure for a lifetime. No matter how dark the night, God promises that rejoicing will come in the morning. Let these words become your own prayer, trusting that God is always working to restore and renew you. [01:02:27]

Psalm 30:1-5 (ESV)
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Reflection: Where in your life do you need to trust God to lift you out of discouragement or despair, and can you bring that area to Him in prayer today?

Day 2: Jesus Is the Resurrection and the Life

Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life,” offering hope that goes beyond the grave. He is not just a future promise but a present reality—anyone who believes in Him will live, even after dying. In moments of loss, disappointment, or confusion, Jesus invites us to place our faith in Him as the only true source of life and hope. He asks us, as He asked Martha, “Do you believe this?”—calling us to trust Him even when we don’t understand His timing or ways. [01:12:22]

John 11:25-26 (ESV)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust Jesus as your resurrection and life, even when you can’t see how things will work out?

Day 3: Jesus Meets Us in Our Disappointment and Grief

When Mary and Martha faced the death of their brother, they were honest with Jesus about their disappointment and pain. Jesus did not rebuke them; instead, He entered into their grief, wept with them, and shared in their sorrow. He understands the weight of our losses and the depth of our emotions. Even when we feel let down or confused by God’s timing, Jesus draws near, shares our burdens, and brings comfort in the midst of our pain. [01:13:54]

John 11:32-36 (ESV)
Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

Reflection: Is there a disappointment or grief you’ve been holding back from bringing to Jesus? How can you invite Him into that place today?

Day 4: God’s Glory Shines Through Our Weakness and Doubt

Even when our faith falters or we struggle with doubt, God’s power is not limited. Martha hesitated at the tomb, worried about the smell, revealing her uncertainty despite her earlier words of faith. Yet Jesus responded with compassion and performed the miracle anyway, showing that God’s glory is revealed not because of our perfect faith, but because of His faithfulness. He works through our weakness, bringing life and hope where we least expect it. [01:31:55]

John 11:39-44 (ESV)
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Reflection: Where do you feel your faith is weak or uncertain? Can you ask God to show His glory in that very place?

Day 5: Letting Go of Bitterness and Embracing God’s Goodness

Disappointment, if left unchecked, can turn into bitterness—a poison that harms our souls and hinders our ability to live fully in God’s kingdom. Jesus understands our humanity and our struggles, but He calls us to lay down bitterness and trust in His goodness, even when things don’t happen as we hoped. He is the good shepherd who does the right thing anyway, inviting us to surrender our pain and let Him bring healing and joy. [01:40:20]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Reflection: Is there a root of bitterness or disappointment in your heart that you need to lay down before God today? What step can you take to release it and embrace His healing?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 30 and the story of Lazarus in John 11 invite us to wrestle honestly with disappointment, faith, and the mystery of God’s timing. Life is full of moments that pull us down—family struggles, work, health, our own sin, or the sin of others. Sometimes, despite our prayers and our faith, things don’t turn out as we hoped. In those moments, it’s easy to question God’s love, to wonder if we’ve misunderstood our relationship with Him, or to let disappointment fester into bitterness. Yet, these passages remind us that God’s favor lasts a lifetime, and that even when we are in the depths, He is working for His glory and our good.

The account of Lazarus’ death and resurrection is not just a story of miraculous power, but of Jesus’ deep compassion and understanding of human pain. Both Martha and Mary approach Jesus with their grief and disappointment, each in their own way. Martha tries to keep her faith strong, even as her expectations are challenged. Mary, overwhelmed, falls at Jesus’ feet, her pain raw and honest. Jesus meets them both—He weeps with them, feels their pain, and then acts in a way that no one expected. He calls Lazarus out of the grave, demonstrating that He is indeed the resurrection and the life.

This encounter reveals that Jesus is not put off by our flawed faith or our disappointment. He understands our humanity and still moves in power and love. Even when our faith falters, even when we try to convince ourselves and others that we believe more than we do, Jesus remains faithful. He does not wait for perfect belief before acting; He brings life and hope into our darkest places. The resurrection of Lazarus is a sign that the power of death and disappointment is broken, and that God’s glory is revealed even through our weakness.

We are invited to bring our pain, our disappointment, and even our bitterness to Jesus. He is the only true source of life, the good shepherd, the gate, the resurrection. There is nothing more important or better in this life than Him. Whether we need healing, forgiveness, or simply the courage to trust again, He welcomes us to come, to lay it all down, and to receive His joy and life.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Timing and Glory: Sometimes God delays in ways that challenge our understanding and expectations. Jesus waited before going to Lazarus, not out of indifference, but so that God’s glory would be revealed in a greater way. When our prayers seem unanswered, it may be that God is working a deeper purpose that will ultimately bring more life and faith than we could imagine. [69:25]
2. Honest Faith in Disappointment: Martha and Mary both bring their disappointment to Jesus, but in different ways—one with practical faith, the other with raw emotion. God is not threatened by our questions or our pain; He invites us to bring our honest selves to Him. True faith is not the absence of doubt or disappointment, but the willingness to bring those things to Jesus and trust Him with them. [84:10]
3. The Danger of Bitterness: Disappointment, if left unchecked, can turn into bitterness, which is corrosive to the soul and hinders our ability to live fully in God’s kingdom. Bitterness must be dealt with proactively; it cannot be ignored or justified. Jesus offers healing and freedom, but we must be willing to bring our pain and resentment into the light of His presence. [96:04]
4. Jesus Acts Despite Our Flawed Faith: Even when Martha’s and Mary’s faith was imperfect, and even when the crowd doubted, Jesus still raised Lazarus. God’s faithfulness is not dependent on the perfection of our belief. He moves in grace and power, often in ways that surprise us, and His purposes are accomplished even through our weakness. [97:48]
5. The Centrality of Christ: Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.” He is not just a means to an end, but the very source of life itself. There is nothing more important or satisfying than knowing Him. In every circumstance—joy or sorrow, faith or doubt—He remains the one we must turn to, trust, and follow. [99:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[61:37] - Psalm 30: A Prayer in the Depths
[64:29] - Confession, Forgiveness, and Community
[65:52] - Baptism and the “I Am” Series
[67:33] - Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life
[68:48] - The Story of Lazarus Begins
[69:25] - God’s Glory in Delay
[70:55] - Jesus Prepares the Disciples
[71:43] - Martha’s Honest Conversation
[72:22] - “I Am the Resurrection and the Life”
[73:20] - Mary’s Grief and Jesus’ Compassion
[74:16] - The Miracle: Lazarus Raised
[75:45] - The Response: Belief and Opposition
[77:12] - Friendship, Danger, and Trust
[84:10] - Wrestling with Disappointment
[90:16] - Jesus’ Anger and Sorrow
[92:22] - God’s Glory Revealed
[96:04] - The Poison of Bitterness
[97:48] - Jesus Acts Anyway
[99:02] - The Supremacy of Christ
[100:04] - Invitation to Baptism and Prayer
[101:04] - Closing Song: “Jesus Have It All”

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Wrestling with Disappointment, Faith, and the Mystery of God’s Timing
(Based on Psalm 30 & John 11: The Story of Lazarus)

Bible Reading

- Psalm 30
- John 11:1–44

Observation Questions

In Psalm 30, what are some of the emotions and experiences the writer describes? What does he say about God’s anger and favor?
When Jesus hears that Lazarus is sick, what does He do? How do His actions surprise the disciples and Lazarus’ family? ([01:09:25])
How do Martha and Mary each respond to Jesus when He arrives after Lazarus has died? What do they say to Him? ([01:24:10])
What does Jesus do when He sees Mary and the others weeping? How does He show His emotions? ([01:13:38])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus waited before going to see Lazarus, even though He loved him and his sisters? What does this tell us about God’s timing? ([01:09:25])
How does Jesus respond to Martha’s and Mary’s disappointment and grief? What does this show us about how God handles our honest emotions? ([01:24:10])
The sermon mentions that disappointment can turn into bitterness if left unchecked. Why is bitterness so dangerous to our spiritual life? ([01:36:04])
Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” What does it mean that Jesus Himself is the source of life, not just someone who gives it? ([01:39:02])

Application Questions

Can you think of a time when you prayed for something and God didn’t answer the way you hoped? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([01:35:00])
Are you more like Martha (practical, trying to keep faith strong) or Mary (emotional, honest with pain) when you face disappointment? How does that affect the way you come to Jesus? ([01:24:10])
Is there any area in your life right now where you feel disappointed with God or are struggling to trust His timing? What would it look like to bring that honestly to Jesus this week? ([01:24:10])
The sermon warns about bitterness taking root. Is there any disappointment or hurt in your life that has started to turn into bitterness? What steps could you take to bring that into the light and seek healing? ([01:36:04])
Jesus acted even when Martha’s and Mary’s faith was imperfect. How does knowing that God’s faithfulness doesn’t depend on your perfect belief encourage or challenge you? ([01:37:48])
The sermon says there is nothing more important or better in this life than Jesus Himself. Are there things in your life that you have put above Him, especially in times of disappointment? What would it look like to put Jesus at the center again? ([01:39:02])
If you need healing, forgiveness, or courage to trust again, what is one practical step you can take this week to lay that down before Jesus and receive His joy and life? ([01:40:04])

Close in prayer, inviting group members to bring their honest disappointments, questions, and hopes to Jesus, trusting Him to meet them with compassion and new life.

Sermon Clips

“So the story starts with Mary sending word to Jesus to let Lazarus his dear friend. So there was a relationship there. They were dear friends. They were close. And we see that it's the Mary that had been um it it says later Mary was going to be anointing his feet. So they lived about 30 ks away from where Mary and Martha and Lazarus were or sorry the disciples were about 30ks away. So it you if you hiked it you could have done it in a day.”

“But Jesus loved Mary and Martha, and he stayed for two more days. So when the disciples heard it, don't you think that some of them have said, "Well, hey, shouldn't we go? Shouldn't we get to Bethany because Lazarus is sick? He needs you, Lord, and we know that you bring the goods. You heal people." But they didn't.”

“Things had gotten really dangerous. There was a lot of threats against Jesus' life. And so they probably like, "Okay, yeah, it's dangerous. I understand why Jesus is reluctant to go and see his dear friends. He's keeping him and us safe." So they were actually really shocked when Jesus said a couple of days later, "Let's go."”

“But perhaps it was like, "Hey disciples, have you been listening to what I've been saying? I've told you that I'm the light of the world and I've told you I'm the good shepherd. So with me, you're safe. with me, you don't have to stumble." And then Jesus says plainly, well, he doesn't say plainly, he actually says cryptically, Lazarus has fallen asleep.”

“And he's dead because I'm going to grow you guys. I'm going to do this not how you expected me to do it. You know, I usually you expect me to walk up to people and and they get healed. I'm I'm going to do this one different because things are ratcheting up at this time. Things are getting serious. So, we're going to take it another level.”

“And Thomas said, "Oh, heck. We're in this so deep. We've thrown our whole lot in with you, Jesus. Hey, I'm going to come with you and die if I have to. Let's go and die with Jesus. And they do not die, but they go just to get that straight. So somehow Martha got word that Jesus was near. She went to meet him at the edge of the village."”

“So, back to the present. Martha finds Jesus and her disappointment is apparent. If only you'd been here, Jesus. Her thoughts could have been something like, I sent word. I don't understand. You could have been here days ago. I thought we were really close. I thought you loved us. Did I misjudge our relationship?”

“Then realizing her thoughts were poisoning the situation, she said, "But I know God will give you whatever you ask." And Jesus reassur assures her and says yes your brother will rise. But Martha's mind battle continues trying to keep her expectations down. She says yes at the last days when they expect or the Jews expected everyone to rise in the last days.”

“Jesus could have said, "Martha, have you been paying attention, you've not only seen me heal blind people, people lame people walking because I've prayed for them, but I've actually already raised the daughter of Gyrus and the son of the widow of Naan from death." So, she would have known two cases where people have been brought back to life.”

“And Jesus says, "You're looking at the only option for resurrection. I I am the resurrection. I am the life. I'm the gate. You have to come through me. I'm the good shepherd. You have every reason to put your faith in me. Do you believe me? Bit of a tough question because rather than a simple yes, Martha tries to convince Jesus of her faith."”

“And I wonder if it was the confrontation of seeing Jesus under her heavy burden of disappointment. What would I say? My brother's dead. I know. I know. Jesus, you could have stopped this. What What will I say to Jesus when I see him? I'm going to put off that meeting because I'm disappointed. But she did go.”

“And there were lots of friends that have come from Jerusalem. And there's a cultural thing of of mourning in that culture that you can actually hire people to mourn and it's loud and they're whailing and there's music um you know dures and stuff that make whailing kind of sounds and it was there's a lot going on.”

“The thick atmosphere of hopelessness, the pain of death was all around. It it almost seemed like the curse of the garden and the pain inflicted on humanity was all culminated together in one moment. It's like Jesus understood the curse and the pain it had for humanity. And this time it was more personal.”

“Disappointment can occupy your mind. Disappointment taken further can turn into bitterness. And bitterness is septic and degenerating to the soul. It is difficult to operate well in the kingdom of God when you're bitter. And the other side is perhaps I'm good at saying the correct and proper thing and convince myself and others that I believe strongly.”

“Despite our failings, he is the good shepherd and he's going to do the right thing anyway. He says, "I understand your humanity. Oh, I wish you'd trusted me more that you didn't have to put yourself through this." But nothing changes. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the good shepherd. I'm the gate. There is nothing better in this life than me.”

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