Choose Well
Disappointment is life’s amplifier.
What you choose to do in moments of disappointment will either amplify your faith or amplify your bitterness. You don’t always get to choose your disappointments, but you always get to choose what gets amplified through them. —Dave Willis
Disappointment is Inevitable
Scripture never promises a life without disappointment. Instead, it shows us how God’s people responded when expectations collided with reality. Some chose well, letting disappointment draw them nearer to God. Others chose poorly, letting bitterness take root.
The difference wasn’t in what they faced—it was in what they amplified.
When Faith Was Amplified
Joseph in Egypt(Genesis 37–50): Betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused, forgotten in prison—Joseph had every reason to grow bitter. Instead, he chose trust. At the end, he declared, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). His disappointments became the amplifier of faith in God’s greater plan.
Hannah (1 Samuel 1): Heartbroken by barrenness and mocked by others, she poured her soul out to God rather than letting bitterness consume her. Her prayerful surrender amplified faith—and God gave her Samuel, who became a prophet to the nation.
When Bitterness Took Root
Cain (Genesis 4): Disappointed that God favored Abel’s offering, Cain let anger fester. Instead of choosing well, he amplified bitterness, which led to violence and estrangement.
The Israelites (Numbers 13–14): Faced with the giants in Canaan, disappointment in their expectations turned to complaint. Instead of trusting God’s promise, they amplified fear—and missed the joy of entering the land.
Our Choice Today
Disappointment will come—loss, rejection, setbacks, unanswered prayers. But we are never left without choice. Will we amplify despair, or will we amplify faith? Paul reminds us, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed… struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9).
God’s promise is not the absence of disappointment—it is His presence within it.
His plan is always rooted in love. He offers hope that doesn’t disappoint because it rests on His faithfulness, not our circumstances (Romans 5:5).
Reflection