3/24/25 Wrestling with Disappointment
- Fr. Patrick Bush
- Mar 24
- 2 min read
Takeaway: Bringing our frustrations before God.
“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” — Habakkuk 1:2-3
Opening Prayer
Gracious and loving God, I come before You with an open heart, bringing my joys, burdens, and questions. You are the One who hears my cries, even when I struggle to understand Your ways. In this time of devotion, help me to be honest with You. Speak to me through Your Word, remind me of Your presence, and renew my trust in Your perfect plan. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection
Disappointment is one of the hardest emotions to bring before God. When prayers seem to go unanswered, when injustice prevails, and when life doesn’t unfold as we had hoped, we may find ourselves echoing the prophet Habakkuk’s cry: How long, Lord?
Habakkuk lived in a time of deep turmoil. He saw corruption, violence, and suffering all around him. And yet, God seemed silent. If God was good, just, and sovereign, why wasn’t He acting?
Many of us wrestle with these same questions. We pray for healing, but the illness remains. We ask for guidance, but the path stays unclear. We long for justice, but evil seems to win out. God, where are You?
The beauty of Habakkuk’s story is that God does not rebuke him for his questions. Instead, He responds—not always in the way Habakkuk expects, but in a way that reveals His greater plan. The prophet’s raw honesty before God is an invitation for us to do the same. Disappointment doesn’t mean a lack of faith; rather, it may reveal how deep our faith is in God.
Question
What does Habakkuk’s example teach you about wrestling with frustration while still trusting in God?
Application
• Be Honest with God. Don’t be afraid to bring your frustrations, doubts, and disappointments before Him. He welcomes your honesty.
• Look Beyond Immediate Circumstances. God’s plans unfold in ways we cannot always see. Trust that His justice and mercy are still at work.
• Hold onto God’s Promises. Even when we don’t understand, we can cling to His faithfulness. Like Habakkuk, we can move from questioning to trusting.
Closing Prayer
Lord, I bring my disappointments before You. I don’t always understand why You delay or why suffering continues, but I choose to trust You. Give me the faith to wait on Your timing and the courage to wrestle honestly with my doubts. Teach me to find hope in Your promises, even when my heart is heavy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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