Finding Hope in Disappointment: Trusting God's Plan

Life rarely unfolds according to our plans. We come with expectations—about our families, our marriages, our careers, even our walk with God—and often reality falls painfully short. This week, I’ve felt that gap deeply, both personally and in the heartbreak of a young student’s diagnosis. When our reality doesn’t match our expectations, disappointment and disillusionment can set in, leaving us wondering how to move forward.

We see this same struggle in the life of King David. He had every reason to expect a legacy through his son Absalom, but betrayal shattered those dreams. Forced to flee his own kingdom, David’s anguish poured out in Psalm 31, where he confessed his distress, grief, and sense of abandonment. Disappointment has a way of distorting our perspective, making us believe things are worse than they are, and tempting us to give up on God, others, and ourselves.

Yet, David models a way through disappointment. He doesn’t hide his pain from God—he pours it out honestly, venting his frustration and confusion. But then, in a pivotal moment, David chooses trust: “But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God. My times are in your hands.’” Even when everything seems lost, David anchors his hope not in his own plans, but in God’s faithfulness and sovereignty.

This is the invitation for us: to bring our raw disappointment to God, to remember His past faithfulness, and to trust that His purposes will prevail even when our plans fall apart. Our hope is not in circumstances, but in the God who restores, redeems, and brings us through seasons of loss. Like David, we can choose to be strong and take heart, knowing that God preserves the faithful and that restoration is possible—even when we can’t see how.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Disappointment is born in the gap between expectation and reality. When life doesn’t go as planned, it’s easy to lose perspective and become consumed by what’s missing or broken. Recognizing this gap helps us understand our emotional responses and invites us to bring our disappointment honestly before God. [26:00]
• 2. Honest lament is a vital part of faith. David didn’t sanitize his prayers—he poured out his grief, anger, and confusion to God. God can handle our rawest emotions; in fact, voicing them is often the first step toward healing and regaining perspective. [41:32]
• 3. Trust is most meaningful when circumstances are bleak. It’s easy to trust God when life is smooth, but true faith is forged in the fire of disappointment. Choosing to say, “My times are in your hands,” even when nothing makes sense, is a profound act of surrender and hope. [38:38]
• 4. Remembering God’s past faithfulness fuels present hope. When disappointment clouds our vision, recalling how God has come through before can reorient our hearts. This practice shifts our focus from the problem to the Provider, reminding us that God’s character does not change with our circumstances. [44:21]
• 5. Our hope must rest in God’s plan, not our own. We are invited to release our tightly held expectations and trust that God’s purposes will prevail—even when our dreams die. Restoration may not look like we imagined, but God is able to redeem and restore in ways beyond our understanding. [47:39]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:53] - Opening Prayer and Acknowledgments
• [23:21] - Personal Struggles and Vulnerability
• [24:07] - The Story of the Young Student
• [26:00] - The Gap Between Expectation and Reality
• [27:51] - Rethinking Expectations in Relationships
• [28:48] - Unrealistic Life Plans and Disappointment
• [29:53] - Parental and Spiritual Expectations
• [31:44] - King David’s Story: Betrayal and Loss
• [34:29] - David’s Honest Lament in Psalm 31
• [36:00] - Losing Perspective in Disappointment
• [38:38] - Choosing Trust in the Midst of Pain
• [41:32] - Pouring Out Frustration to God
• [44:21] - Remembering God’s Faithfulness
• [45:26] - Hope and Strength in God
• [47:39] - Trusting God’s Plan Over Our Own
• [49:39] - Restoration and God’s Purpose
• [51:04] - Prayer for the Disappointed
• [54:34] - Comfort for Those Grieving
• [55:26] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Reading

Psalm 31:9-16 (ESV) — > 9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
> my eye is wasted from grief;
> my soul and my body also.
> 10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
> and my years with sighing;
> my strength fails because of my iniquity,
> and my bones waste away.
> 11 Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,
> especially to my neighbors,
> and an object of dread to my acquaintances;
> those who see me in the street flee from me.
> 12 I have been forgotten like one who is dead;
> I have become like a broken vessel.
> 13 For I hear the whispering of many—
> terror on every side!—
> as they scheme together against me,
> as they plot to take my life.
> 14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
> I say, “You are my God.”
> 15 My times are in your hand;
> rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!
> 16 Make your face shine on your servant;
> save me in your steadfast love!

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) — > Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
> but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

2 Samuel 19:14 (ESV) — > And he swayed the heart of all the men of Judah as one man, so that they sent word to the king, “Return, both you and all your servants.”

Observation Questions

1. What emotions does David express in Psalm 31:9-13, and how does he describe his situation?
2. According to the sermon, what was David’s expectation for his son Absalom, and how did reality turn out differently? [[32:12]]
3. In Psalm 31:14-16, what shift happens in David’s attitude or focus?
4. What does Proverbs 19:21 say about the difference between our plans and God’s purposes?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think David chose to pour out his honest feelings to God instead of hiding them? What does this teach us about how God wants us to approach Him? [[41:32]]
2. The sermon says disappointment can cause us to lose perspective and make things seem worse than they are. Why is it so easy to become problem-focused instead of God-focused in hard times? [[36:00]]
3. When David says, “My times are in your hands,” what does that reveal about his trust in God, even when everything seems lost? [[38:38]]
4. How does remembering God’s past faithfulness help us when we’re facing disappointment or loss? [[44:21]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about the “gap” between our expectations and reality. Can you think of a time recently when your reality didn’t match what you hoped for? How did you respond in that moment? [[26:00]]
2. David didn’t hold back his emotions from God—he vented his frustration, anger, and confusion. Is it hard for you to be that honest with God? What would it look like for you to bring your raw disappointment to Him this week? [[41:32]]
3. The message said that words like “always” and “never” are red flags that we’ve lost perspective. Are there areas in your life where you’ve been using those words? How can you catch yourself and shift your focus back to God? [[36:00]]
4. David chose to trust God even when everything seemed hopeless. What would it look like for you to say, “My times are in your hands,” in your current situation? [[38:38]]
5. The sermon encouraged us to remember God’s faithfulness in the past. Can you share a specific time when God came through for you before? How might that memory help you trust Him now? [[44:21]]
6. The pastor said, “Our hope is in the Lord. It’s not in our plans.” Are there any plans or expectations you need to release to God right now? What’s holding you back from trusting His plan over your own? [[47:39]]
7. Restoration for David didn’t look like he expected, but God still brought him through. How might God be working to restore or redeem your situation, even if it’s not in the way you imagined? [[49:39]]