When people we trust disappoint us . . . .

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One of the most discouraging occurrences in our lives is when people we trust disappoint us. It may be a public figure we have respected or it may be a loved one. Sometimes we aren’t just discouraged; we are devastated.

The apostle Paul experienced people he trusted disappointing him. In his second letter to Timothy, he asked:

Make every effort to come to me soon;
for Demas, having loved this present world,
has deserted me . . .
2 Timothy 4:9-10

Jesus experienced desertion, too. When the crowd came to arrest Him while He was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane:

. . . Jesus said to them,
“Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me,
as you would against a robber?
Every day I was with you in the temple teaching,
and you did not seize Me;
but this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures.”
Mark 14:48-49

The reaction of His disciples, including His three closest friends Peter, James, and John, was horrible.

And they all left Him and fled.
Mark 14:50

Disappointed. Deserted. Devastated. A song we have sung in church for decades teaches us what to do when people desert, disappoint, or even devastate us. Edward Mote wrote it in 1834. I shared it with you early in 2018.

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in ev’ry high and stormy gale
my anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found,
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.

Two statements in the hymn are particularly appropriate when someone we trust disappoints us:

  • I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
  • When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

I have often stood beside Ray when singing this hymn. Many times I have thought about Ray as my “sweetest frame” and realized that my trust must be in Christ, the solid rock, even if my own “sweetest frame” quit standing strong. God has blessed me with Ray, a “sweetest frame” who is also solid, but ultimately my trust must be in Christ, the solid rock.

And coming to Him as to a living stone
which has been rejected by men,
but is choice and precious in the sight of God,
you also, as living stones,
are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
For this is contained in Scripture:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone,
And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
1 Peter 2:4-6

 

 

 

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