Dealing with Disappointment – Sunday, January 3, 2021

Every life needs aspirations—along with goals to help us achieve them. Our goals can be like the banks of a river, guiding the flow of our ambitions. Making plans and striving to accomplish them helps channel our efforts and energies toward the things that matter most to us. 

But what about when we fail? How do we respond when, despite our earnest efforts, we don’t quite reach those high aspirations? In short, how do we deal with disappointment? 

 The natural response is to feel discouraged, disheartened. It might seem that all our planning and work were wasted. We may even question our aspirations—were our hopes too high? Should we lower our expectations? Should we give up on ourselves or others? 

  Surely there must be a better way to react to disappointment. 

Henry Ford said, “Failure is only the opportunity … to begin again.” Failure is an excellent teacher—as long as we are willing students. Yes, failure brings disappointment, but that disappointment may be just the motivation we need to reevaluate our course and make adjustments. 

And then, once we’ve learned from the disappointing past, we turn our eyes cheerfully toward the future. The failures of yesterday need not hold hostage the possibilities of tomorrow. The hope and confidence we felt in the beginning can be the bridge that crosses over the gulf of disappointment and carries us to the bright, happy future we all hope for. 

 Paul, the early Christian Apostle, had his own disappointing past. For years he had fought against the Church he later learned to love. When he realized how misguided he had been, he must have felt deep regret. His disappointment could have led to a fearful retreat into inaction, but instead it inspired a course correction—and a life of faith and service. Paul later said, “This one thing doforgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize.” (1 Philippians 3:13-14) 

Personal disappointments may slow us down, but they don’t need to stop us. People may disappoint us, but we can patiently love them as they find their way. The riverbed of life is full of obstacles and unexpected turns, but water always finds a way around them. The journey is thrilling, and the destination is divine. 

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January 3, 2021 Dealing with Disappointment
Broadcast Number 4,764

The Tabernacle Choir
Orchestra at Temple Square

Conductor
Mack Wilberg

Organist
Andrew Unsworth

Host
Lloyd Newell

All Creatures of Our God and King
German hymn tune; arr. Mack Wilberg

Awake and Arise, All Ye Children of Light
Welsh tune; arr. Mack Wilberg

Be Thou My Vision
Irish folk melody; arr. Andrew Unsworth

Lovely Appear, from The Redemption
Charles Gounod

Who Will Buy? From Oliver!
Lionel Bart; arr. Michael Davis

Thou Lovely Source of True Delight
Mack Wilberg