Life is filled with disappointment. Job said, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble" (Job 14:1). Disappointment comes in all shapes and sizes. Some we bring on ourselves; some is brought upon us by others; and some is simply the result of events over which no one has control. How can we handle disappointments in life? John 14-16 contains the answer. In this section of Scripture Jesus prepares the apostles for His departure. He has been with them for about three years. He has been their constant companion. But Jesus is about to depart. The apostles are about to lose their best friend, the one on whom they have relied for so long. Imagine their disappointment! The way Jesus prepared them for this potentially overwhelming disappointment can also give us strength to overcome our disappointments.

Have Faith In God

Faith in God will help us through disappointing times. Jesus begins this section, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me" (Jn. 14:1). Imagine if we were in the place of the apostles. Do we remember times in our lives when we lost someone on whom we depended so much, whether a best friend, family member, or even a spouse? Perhaps as children we can remember when our best friend moved away. Or maybe church members whom we have grown to love and appreciate for whatever reason left the congregation. This is how disappointed the apostles are about to feel. Their best friend is about to leave. Their security will be taken away. What can they do? What can we do? Jesus says, "Believe in God"! Biblical belief is not a "blind leap in the dark." It is based on knowledge (Rom. 10:17). Yes, that's right-faith is knowing! The Bible defines it: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). The evidence for God's existence is all around us (cf. Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:19-20). We can also know that the Bible is His inspired word. We must, therefore, do what it teaches and trust its promises, because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:6). When tempted to be overcome with disappointment, we must look beyond the moment and trust that God will help us.

Realize This World Is Not Our Home

Jesus promised the apostles, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (Jn. 14:2-3). There is more to life for the faithful Christian than this world. One reason Jesus went back to the Father was to make ready our eternal abode with God. "Mansions [dwelling places, NAS; rooms, NKJ]" is from a Greek word (mone) that means "dwelling place, abode, room" (same word in Jn. 14:23). Imagine living in the same abode as the Father and the Son! That is exactly what awaits all the faithful children of God. There is no disappointment in this life that can take that away! Paul says that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18). Most, if not all, of our disappointment arises because of what we perceive as losing in this world. The apostles, for example, had difficulty seeing beyond their present time when faced with the reality of Jesus' departure (cf. Jn. 14:5, 8, 22). Sometimes we also have a hard time looking beyond the here and now. It will help us to overcome disappointment when we realize that we do not belong to this world, and the things we lose in this world will be more than compensated in eternity (cf. Mk. 10:28-30)!

Continue To Work In The Lord

Jesus' preparation of the apostles for His departure involved a reminder of their work in relation to Him. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman....4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit....6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (Jn. 15:1-6). In the face of their coming disappointment, the apostles needed to remember they had work to do! If it was possible for an apostle, if he did not continue bearing the characteristics of "the vine," to be cut off and cast into the fire, then it is certainly possible for that to happen to us. No matter what may be our disappointments in this life, we must always remember the work the Lord has for us (Eph. 2:10; Tit. 2:7, 14; 3:8). We must abide and work in Him, remembering that our "labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).

Be At Peace

Jesus closes the section of Scripture in which He prepares the apostles for His departure by offering them His peace: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33). Disappointments are a part of this life. However, we do not have to allow them to keep us in a constant state of anxiety (Mt. 6:25-33). We must trust that God, as He has promised, will work "all things...together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28). Whatever the loss that brings disappointment to our lives, God is able to make good come out of it. We have assurance: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (Jn. 14:27).