Can We Disappoint God?
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Today I met with a college student and we were talking about living our lives for Christ so that when we look back one day, we do not have regret. She was sharing how she is a bit of a perfectionist and when I asked how she would feel if she never grew spiritually in life, she responded that she would be worried that she disappointed God. The young woman then asked the question, “Can we disappoint God?” Today we are going to unpack this question based on Scripture, and hopefully gain more understanding into who our God really is and how He loves us.
I think about how many times the Israelites went their own way, and it broke the heart of God. It was a letdown, but also it was not a surprise to Him in His sovereignty. His disappointment was that He wanted what was best for them, but they sinned and chose their own way. He did not desire to give them consequences, however He is perfectly just and always does the right thing.
If we think about Adam and Eve in the garden, the Creator did not delight in kicking them out of His presence; I imagine that He was disappointed that they chose to sin and there now had to be separation. However, He walked and lovingly confronted them, sacrificed an animal and clothed them, sending them on their way and protecting them from the other tree (Genesis 3).
The Bible says that we can grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). This again draw us back to the heart of our loving Father. He can grieve over our sins not out of disdain, but out of love for us.
This all points back to how we are defining disappointment. If you believe disappointment is belittling, that is a sin, and in God there is no sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). If you believe disappointment can look like a loving Father desiring the best for His children, who is saddened when they disobey and do what hurts them, then this is God. If you define disappointment as never being perfect enough, then you miss the gospel that Jesus covered our sins so we stand forgiven when we accept Him as our Lord (Hebrews 10:14).
Romans 3:23 tells us that we all fall short of God's glory. Romans 3:10 says no one is righteous. However, this is why “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Brother or sister, if you are living in shame or condemnation, this is not what the Lord has for you. I once heard that the Holy Spirit convicts, but never condemns. Is there any area that you feel God is disappointed with you? Remember that He loves you and He wants the best for you. God has emotions, but never sins. His mercies are new every morning.
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