25/03/2026
It’s commonly said that every disappointment is a blessing. I could argue that it’s not necessarily so. But one thing I won’t argue against is the notion that if responded to correctly, we can find God in every disappointment.
I recently made a reservation at a hotel days before my trip. Imagine my consternation on arriving, only to be told that the specific room I reserved was given out, and for the next three days, the exact length of my stay! Turns out the General Manager had failed to communicate my reservation to the necessary parties.
Thoroughly disappointed, griping was the natural legitimate reaction. But then, I snapped out of it and challenged myself to heed the instruction of Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:18; “In everything give thanks....”. I began to express gratitude to God freely. I thanked Him for roof over my head and for His faithfulness towards me. Right in the middle of it, my attention was drawn to the number of the room I got - 119. In an instant, it clicked. Psalm 119! Rather than waste the moment griping and downcast, the LORD would have me turn the pain of the disappointment into seeds of prayer from Psalm 119. Such blessed epiphany!
I promptly opened my Bible to the Psalm, divided its 176 verses into three and resolved to pray each part for each night I’m to spend in the hotel.
This encounter taught me valuable lessons in faith. How often do we let the pain of our disappointments send us spiralling off a mental cliff? Alas, how often do we miss God in those moments, and what precious gems of insights do we lose out on as a result?
Perhaps, disappointments in themselves are nothing after all. Our response to them is what determines whether they’ll turn out a blessing or a curse, a gain or a loss, a time of sinking gloom or a moment to experience the elevating joy of God's presence.