Life often disappoints because of unhealthy or unrealistic expectations. We think life will be better once we graduate from high school. What occurs is more responsibility: either a job or more pressure because of college studies. When I graduate from college, then life will be good. Again, disappointment hits. The dream job doesn’t come through. The boss is demanding and unreasonable. Romantic notions of marriage collide with the reality of bills, communication challenges, difficult in-laws and finding compatible couples as friends. When life doesn’t deliver, what are you supposed to do?
Rather than receiving deliverance by sharing and interceding to God about his pain, staying silent and avoiding good made his pain grow worse (Ps. 38:16-22; 39:1-2).
By getting bogged down in the details and trials of life, you lose sight of your purpose–why you were created in the first place. The Psalmist asked the Lord to reveal his purpose because life is short, just like a breath. It’s gone in a moment of time (Ps. 39:3-5).
Since life is transient, how should you live? Perspective and seeing the big picture is critical! It’s a waste of time to be angry about every little inconvenience. It’s worthless to spend all your energy making money when you will be spending eternity with God. Don’t expect your stock portfolio, bank account, nice home, retirement package or easy life provide ultimate satisfaction in life! Your hope comes from God. He will deliver you from sin so you can relate appropriately with others (Ps. 39:6-9).
It’s counterintuitive, but God’s children are disciplined until they are pure because He loves you. He finds you precious in His sight (Ps. 39:10-11).
If you don’t find purpose or satisfaction in things and discover that life disappoints, what makes you cheerful? Center your life around prayer so God hears you. Follow 1 Pet. 4:7 to be of sound judgment for the purpose of prayer because the end is at hand.
Get up earlier so you can pray. Finish your day in prayer. Take time at lunch to pray.
