A Practical Guide to Dealing with Disappointment

Have you heard of “Low Sunday?”

It’s an actual day that lands on the first Sunday after Easter (I can already hear the amen from fellow church workers as I type this). But I’m not referring to the low church attendance numbers that inevitably follow Easter Sunday. I mean the coming-down experience from the high of celebrating Easter.

Or watching the Broncos last season…or the Rockies this season. At least we have the Nuggets.

You have letdowns. I have letdowns. And it’s not restricted to a formal day on the calendar. The disappointments of life are inevitable.

If this note finds you in that place, consider the way two disciples were led through their disappointment in Luke 24:13-35.

Walk and Talk it Out (Luke 24:13-17)

One of the best things we can do is get out for a walk - it does wonders for our screen-saturated lives.

On top of it, it’s just a truth of life that when the body gets moving, so does the mind and the mouth. Getting out in God’s creation lowers the barrier to expressing our internal stuff to him.

Open Up About What You Expected (Luke 24:18-24)

I take great comfort in the words of the two disciples heading to Emmaus in this passage: “…but we had hoped…”

I take even greater comfort that those hopes were heard by their Savior - even if they didn’t realize he was right there with them in that moment. He still hears those hopes today.

Spend Some Time in Scripture (Luke 24:25-27)

We can read Scripture two very different ways: self-centered or Christ-centered.

When we read it self-centered, we tend to start striving after the commands and demands we come across. When we read it Christ-centered, everything begins to illuminate before our very eyes. Notice how Jesus walks these disciples back through the Scriptures they likely knew, but opens their eyes to all that concerned him in the Scriptures.

Extend an Invitation (Luke 24:28-30)

There is nothing like a meal to deal with disappointment.

Sitting at a table with others has synergy to it. When one meets another over a meal, something bigger than each of them takes place. It’s absolutely true that fellowship with others gives us perspective on ourselves.

Record Your Revelations (Luke 24:31-32)

Notice it was when Jesus broke the bread that these disciples’ eyes were opened.

Upon recognizing Jesus, they gained perspective on their prior hours. And it still happens today. When we encounter the word of God, the people of God, and the presence of God, we begin to find some gratitude even in the letdowns of life.

We can see them as God’s way of bringing us to this very moment in which he revealed himself to us.

Share Your Story (Luke 24:33-35)

I love the sudden strength that overpowered a day of disappointment and a long walk down the road.

These two were up at once, heading 7 miles back to Jerusalem (in sandals), sharing their story. When Jesus opens our eyes to what’s right in front of us, it’s an invigorating occurrence. And it may just be what someone else needs as well.

Don’t forget it was on this seemingly disappointing day that God would give his followers the discovery of what he’d been up to all along.

And it’s still true today.

Nathan