because of God's love

Anyone Can Let Us Down
Day 3

by Gini Crawford, MSW

posted 12/21/2016, revised 5/19/2018

My aunt would say some pretty unkind things about people. This is because she expected perfection from people, and no one is perfect. So consequently she thought people were always letting her down, or not doing what she wanted. My aunt's unreasonable standards on how people should act, led to a lot of hurt, and anger in her. Are your expectations too high for people to meet?

Do you feel people are always letting you down? If we are truthful with ourselves, and we need to be, everyone lets us down at times. Yet, if we let what people do or not do drive us to not forgive, we can easily be on a roller coaster ride of high stress throughout our lives. In other words, you will not be a happy person if you have high or unreasonable expectations of people and then refuse to forgive them if they don't meet those expectations.

Most of the time, we can't make people do what we want or need. However, whether or not people meet our needs, we are asked by God to forgive.

... bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Colossians 3:13 NASB®

Who do you rely on for your needs? It is obvious my aunt was trying to rely on people to meet her relational and emotional needs. Do you do that? I can at times. What we need to be doing is putting our reliance/trust in God to meet our relational and emotional needs. People will always let us down sooner or later! God is the only One Who always cares and loves us, and won't let us down! Furthermore trusting in God and not people makes forgiving a lot easier (Proverbs 3:5-6). Who do you trust in? God or others?

Life Application

Will God let us down? To be honest, there are times I feel God has let me down. Do you feel that way too? When I feel God has let me down, I remind myself God loves me, and that He is entirely faithful. Then I ask Him to show me His goodness in my life, what He has done for me, and to reveal reality through His Word. He always answers my heartfelt struggles. Read Psalm 33:4; Jeremiah 33:2-3; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Timothy 2:13. Additionally our feelings are not always reality. I am sure you can relate. For instance, you might feel stupid like I did, but make straight A's in college. Yes feelings can be confusing things to say the least.

God's Word is clear, God will never let us down. This is because God always keeps His promises; He is faithful so you can trust Him. Numbers 23:19 says,

... Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? NASB®

God's Word also tells us in many places that God loves us, He is always with us, and He will never forsake us. Read Psalms 139:1-15; Isaiah 49:14-16; Romans 8:28-39 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Are you encouraged by the fact God is at all times faithful and always with you? Explain why God won't let you down.

For I am convinced...(nothing) will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38a-39bNASB®
O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. Psalms 139:1-2 NASB®
My father and mother may abandon me, but the LORD will take care of me. Psalm 27:10 (GNT)

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