I really like all the pastors at Flatirons and like their messages. But I have favorites. I will not mention their names, but I will tell you why they are my favorites. Even though I have a PhD in Physics, I do not like things that are overly complicated. Mathematics and Physics are precise. Things like Psychology and much of the other softer sciences are a bit less crisp because subjectivity slips in more easily. That complicates everything. One of those people I like is Ben Foote, our speaker for today.

We are in a series dealing with dysfunction in the world because we are all dysfunctional to a degree and live in a highly dysfunctional world. Today, Ben talked about disappointment from two men’s points of view. It is always good when I experience dysfunction, to know I am not alone. And whether the dysfunction defeats me or I rise above it depends on how I view life in general and how I view myself. If I look back on my life, I can see it as a series of failures. Even in achieving a PhD, I had a belief that I had academically achieved the requirements for it but never really acquired the intelligence necessary to figure out what to do with it except teach. That is not bad, except I sensed teaching was not my calling. I was good at it but sensed it was not a fit for what God had in mind for me. Certainly, Experimental Physics was not my calling. I never could figure out how to do the lab experiments. I would say I have carried a low-level sense of disappointment most of my life. I failed in many other ways. My first marriage ended in failure. My experience as a father ended in disappointment. Not because of my children but my ability to parent. Ben defined failure as sadness or displeasure caused by nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations. The formula looks like this. Unmet expectations lead to disappointment and, depending on how we deal with it, disappointment leads to compromise. If we follow Jesus, we will realize, “I have told you these things, so that in me, you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. This verse has both caution and encouragement.

The first person Ben talked about was Samuel, a priest in the Old Testament, a judge, and prophet in Israel, during the time when Saul and David were Kings in Israel. Samuel’s story, in part, is found in 1 Samuel 2 through 1 Samuel 16. Through the lens of Samuel, he believed he had failed as a leader, as the majority of Israel at that time wanted a king. He also failed as a dad; the community wouldn’t allow Samuel’s sons to be in a leadership role. Parents often see their children’s failures as their own failures, not the parents themselves. Samuels disappointment with life came because he believed other people and/or God let him down. Others in his circle did not meet his expectations. In addition to Samuel’s sons being a disappointment, Saul, whom he anointed as king, was also a disappointment, even though Samuel did his best to guide Saul rightly.

So, what do we do with disappointment when others let us down? Ben recommends we cannot quit. I remember when I was taking a course in Chemistry, and I was not doing well, which was my chosen major. I went to the professor and asked him if I should drop out and choose a different major. He gave me sound advice. “Do not quit while you are down. Finish the course and quit when you are a success.” I ended up getting an A in the course. Yes… I then changed my major to Physics. A Biblical piece of advice Paul gave in Galatians6:9. “9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Quitting is sometimes a good decision. But do not do it simply because you are running into difficulty or disappointment.

The other focus of Ben’s message was the story of David. In many of his songs, he laments that he has let others down. So, in this case, I must consider disappointment from the lens of someone who has let others down as opposed to others letting us down. In 1 Samuel 16:7, God instructs the prophet Samuel not to judge a person based on their outward appearance or stature, because God looks at the heart. This verse emphasizes that God’s perspective differs from that of humans, who tend to focus on physical attributes. All of David’s brothers were being considered by Samuel for the position of the future King of Israel… but God said, through Samuel, “none of these will do”. In exasperation, Samuel asked David’s father if there is any other son. Jesse, David’s father, said, “Yes, but he is out tending to the sheep”. Samuel replies that he must see David before he can close the deal. David came and, although handsome, did not fit the stature that man would look for in a King. It is not universal. But many men and women who make ‘good’ in this world are outwardly a great specimen of manhood or womanhood. They tend to be taller or, in some respects, command attention. We tend to look at the outside, but God looks at the heart.

David describes the personality of a man or woman God will honor. He says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:17. This verse emphasizes that a sincere expression of sorrow and remorse for sin, symbolized by a broken and contrite heart, is more valuable to God than any physical sacrifice. It highlights the importance of humility and repentance in one’s relationship with God. When I look back on my failures, I can see that many came about because of my arrogance and pride. I was also morally arrogant. The rules did not fit me. So, I had to decide what pleases God rather than what pleases me. Ben pointed out that what pleases God is a humble heart that looks to God when troubles are crushing and pleads to God for mercy when sins are committed.

We cannot quit now because God will not ever quit or give up on us. Let the Holy Spirit transform your heart to be like that of Jesus. One of my favorite verses is Philippians 1:6, Paul said, “Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation can be a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this adventure with us, believing and proclaiming God’s message, from the day you heard it, right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you, will keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” So, as I heard from the Message Version of this Scripture, I may want to quit, my discouragement may overwhelm me. But my God is all powerful and will never give up on me. And He will never give up on you, either.

If you do not attend a church elsewhere regularly, give us a try. We promise to greet you warmly and accept you as you are. We meet at the Park Historic Theater in downtown Estes at 10 AM on Sundays.