How many among us did not suffer disappointments in their lives? Whatever they are, they are often numerous, and we must live with them. But does that mean it is inevitable? Do we, always, really have to have disappointments along with the suffering associated with it? There is no doubt that we cannot avoid all of them but, nevertheless, we can greatly diminish the number of those which adversely affect our lives.
At the origin of disappointment - and this is the irony of the thing - there is “hope“. But not just any kind of hope, as we will see this later. Disappointment arises largely from the hopes or the expectations that we have in something that is not realized. The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment will be, as well as the suffering, which is a corollary of disappointment. We can see that it is the “hope“, itself, which is problematic. But it is under a certain condition that this hope is problematic. That is: when this hope rests on the desires of our own heart and not on Yahweh. In such a case, then the chances of having big problems heightens and consequently, having great disappointments also increase.
But Yahweh has some very strong words defining the human heart:
“The heart is crooked above all, and desperately sick – who shall know it?" - (Jeremiah 17: 9).
As a matter of fact, Yahweh is clear on this subject, left to its own devices, our heart is tied to our carnal nature as opposed to the love of Yahweh, and therefore resistant to His Law. This is confirmed in the next verses which we will read:
"I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against those of the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to those of the flesh are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want." - (Galatians 5 :16-17)
Therefore, and in the case our carnal nature has the upper hand, that hope of our heart is founded, from the outset, on rebellion and opposition.
Therefore, since our carnal nature has the upper hand, then we see that from the onset, our heart is founded on rebellion and opposition.
If what we hope for does not materialize, then our disappointment is great, for the simple reason that, from the start, our lust is opposed to Yahweh. Thankfully, the Scriptures offer an antidote for such a “carnal” hope. The ONLY hope that does not disappoint is a hope based on the Truth (John 17: 17) - that is on Yahweh who can not lie (Titus 1: 2 ) and on the observance of the Law (I John 5: 3). For this, our heart must be submitted to Yahweh and His Instructions. Then and only then can Yahweh give us what our heart desires, because our heart, in this case, seeks what is in agreement with Yahweh and with what pleases Him.
Consider for a moment what John says under the inspiration of the Ruah Kodesh:
"And whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments and we do what pleases him." - (I John 3: 22)
Based on this simple verse, it is already very clear that compliance with the Torah and being pleasing to Yahweh are the prerequisites or the basic requirements for all prayer requests to Yahweh. Therefore, OUR HEART HAS TO DESIRE THINGS THAT ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT YAHWEH INSTRUCTS, OTHERWISE YAHWEH WILL NOT HEAR BECAUSE HE CANNOT COMMIT PERJURY.
Take the case of the resurrection of Lazarus and read the words of Yahshua the Messiah:
"For me, I knew that thou hearest Me always: but because I spoke to the crowd around Me, that they may believe that thou hast sent Me. " - (John 11: 42).
What does He say later in the same book?
"He who sent Me is with Me he does not let Me alone, because I always do what pleases him. " - (John 8:29).
But what kind of people is pleasing to Yahweh?
"... In every nation anyone who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to Him. " - (Acts 10: 35).
Knowing that the justice according to Yahweh is based on the observance of the commandments and the Torah (Psalm 119: 172; I John 5: 3) and, as a matter of fact, based on the submission to His Will and goodness as defined by Him in Micah 6: 8, then a person who fears Yahweh is also a person whose heart is subjected to the will of Yahweh. This was true of Yahshua the Messiah, and that is why His prayers were answered because they were always in accordance with the will of Yahweh. None were opposed or contrary to Elohim.
We note, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Messiah was heard because He was pleasing to Yahweh, and He always did what Yahweh asked of Him. His requests always conformed to the Scriptures, and the desires of His heart were CONSTANTLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WILL OF YAHWEH. We can deduce that if the desires of our heart are not in tune with what Yahweh wants, then Yahweh will not give us what we ask of Him. Yahweh is always consistent with Himself, and He never changed His mind on the issue.
It is certain that Yahweh WANTS to do us good and DOES answer our prayers:
"Make Yahweh thy delight, And He shall give thee the desires of your heart." - (Psalm 37: 4).
However, this verse requires that our prayers conform to what Yahweh wants, and as we just read, with what is good for Yahweh. Thus, He commands us to do one particular thing that we can read in the Epistle to the Ephesians:
"Examine what is pleasing to the Master" (Ephesians 5: 10).
In other words, if we want something, ask yourself if what we ask for is going against Yahweh’s Will or not?
But how can we know? How can we sense if the request we want to make is consistent and in tune with the desires that Yahweh is ready to grant us? How, if not by examining the Scriptures? :
"All Scripture is inspired by Yahweh and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of Yahweh may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - (II Timothy 3 :16-17)
We also read I Thessalonians 5: 21:
"Prove all things, hold fast what is good." - (I Thessalonians 5: 21)
"All things" also means that which is pleasing to Yahweh, and what is pleasing to Yahweh is that which is good, but good as Yahweh defines it:
"Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing intelligence, that ye may prove what the will of Yahweh, which is good and acceptable and perfect. " - (Romans 12: 2)
What is precisely goodness or good for Yahweh?
"He has declared to you, O man, what is good. And what does Yahweh require of you but to do right, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your Elohim?" - (Micah 6: 8)
In fact, we must admit that by itself, our heart is unable to submit to Yahweh, except through the Holy Spirit and Yahshua Messiah Himself Who is living in us (assuming we walk accordingly of course). The need of the Holy Spirit is vital, otherwise disappointment will only accumulate over time because we would never stop asking for things which not in accordance with the Will of Yahweh, and by implication, things which Yahweh will not grant us, despite His desire to hear our prayers and do us good.
Take, for example, having a relationship with a person in the world - i.e. an unbeliever - when we ourselves are believers. It is simply not consistent with Yahweh as we read in II Corinthians 6 :14-17:
"Do not go with unbelievers abroad. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? And what accord has he between Messiah and Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? What connection is there between the temple of Yahweh with idols? For we are the temple of the living Yahweh as Yahweh said, I will dwell and walk among them, I will be their Yahweh, and they shall be my people. Therefore, come out from among them And be separate, says the Master, Touch not the unclean thing, And I will receive you. " - (II Corinthians 6:14-17)
It is obvious that such a relationship is not something that pleases Him. Consequently, Yahweh cannot fulfill something that goes against His own Instruction; Yahweh cannot contradict Himself as we can read in II Timothy 2: 13 and John 10: 35.
"If we are not trustworthy, He remains trustworthy, it is impossible for Him to deny Himself." - (II Timothy 2:13) "If He called them elohim, to whom the word of Elohim came – and it is impossible for the Scripture to be broken" - (John 10: 35)
Let's consider for a moment that, in II Corinthians 6:14-17, Yahweh clearly ordered us to separate ourselves from an unbeliever, and not to partner or to join with him/her. Going against this command, even as clear as it is, equals rebelling against Yahweh. If, therefore, as an example, we ask to Yahweh a person of the world to be our husband or wife, Yahweh will not hear us - under any circumstances. And if you get one --- an unbeliever whom you love dearly but who does not do concrete steps to change his/her bent ways and to obey Yahweh then there are huge chances that it is not Yahweh who heard you… but someone else like the Adversary. The best protection against this case is by following the Scriptures of Yahweh. Again, it is His Word that defines what pleases Him and what He is ready to grant us.
In fact, we can avoid much suffering by observing Yahweh's instructions! So says the Bible in many ways. Oftentimes, much of the suffering, and disappointments, that we have come from our relationships with people of the world, and/or hopes that we put in them. We hope too much from others, and if this hope is not realized, the deception, and therefore suffering, inevitably follows. A wise man once said: "Requires a lot of yourself, but expect little of others. This way you will avoid many troubles." When you think about it, it's full of common sense.
We should not forget that non-believers do not think or act according to the principles of justice, integrity, and love of Yahweh, whereas true believers, do.
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, while those who live by the spirit mind the things of the spirit. And affection of the flesh is death, while the affection of the mind, that's life and peace, for the carnal mind is enmity against Yahweh, because it not submit to the law of Yahweh, and that it indeed can be. But those who are in the flesh can not please Yahweh. " - (Romans 8 :5-8).
The words of the Master against the world are unequivocal :
"Adulterers you are! do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity against Yahweh? Whoever therefore wants to be friend of the world makes himself an enemy of Yahweh." - (Jacques 4: 4)
And He said:
"Love not the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, for everything in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not the Father, but from the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of Yahweh stands forever. " - (I John 2 :15-17).
If the love of the world is enmity against Yahweh, we should in no way expect Yahweh to hears us if our demands are in line with the ways of the world, and not in the Way of Elohim.
Moreover, such a contrast between these two ways of thinking, which are totally opposite from each other, are only creating friction, tension, and then a final "explosion". And it is impossible to accurately predict the extent of damage following such an event. There can be no unity, by definition, between two oppositions. A Believer must seek the company of his kind, partner with, unite, bind, join his own kind, because this is the only way to achieve the unity of the Spirit, in Peace and in Truth.
Believers and unbelievers cannot unite, no more than clay and iron - they simply go against each other by nature. This is one of the many implicit reasons why Yahweh commanded what was written in II Corinthians 6 :14-17. Reread it:
"Be ye not with the unbelievers abroad. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? And what accord has he between Messiah and Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? What connection is there between the temple of Yahweh with idols? For we are the temple of the living Yahweh as Yahweh said, I will dwell and walk among them, I will be their Yahweh, and they shall be my people. Therefore, come out from among them And be separate, says the Master, Touch not the unclean thing, And I will receive you. " - (II Corinthians 6:14-17)
And it is well described elsewhere in Scripture, that we, as believers, are the Temple of Yahweh :
"Know ye not that ye are the temple of Yahweh, and that the Spirit of Yahweh dwells in you?" - (I Corinthians 3:16)
Why, then, would Yahweh accept to give us any blessing from the start if our demands, our dreams and our desires, go against what He has ordained? It's very simple: He will not bless our requests, and will not grant it.
IN SUMMARY, we see that disappointment is generated by an unrealized hope or expectations. In turn, such disappointment gives rise to suffering. The hope is not realized, or heard, because it is not based on things which are consistent with the good things that Yahweh is ready to give us, and the good things that Yahweh is ready to grant us if we ask Him… Those that are in line with the “good” as defined by Yahweh in His Word. We receive from Him what pleases Him and what pleases Him are those things which are in tune with His Law and Will. Finally, in order to know if what we ask Him is consistent with what pleases Him, we must "prove all things" on the basis of His Word, which is the Truth.
It is only based on a process of reflection and examination of the Word that we can clearly define if certain demands we make in our prayers will be answered or not. To take the example given above, if you ask Yahweh someone of the world, an unbeliever, as a spouse, while Yahweh shows that it is unpleasant to Him in His Word, your request is frivolous and vain, Yahweh will not give attention to your request, and consequently He will not hear it. Another example is a commercial association with a person of the world, Yahweh does not want that we mingle with their creations and corruptions. So He will not bless our work and will not hear our prayers.
Examples are numerous, but one question to ask is always this: " If my prayers are not granted, is it not because what I'm asking is unpleasant to Yahweh or against His Will? “
Indeed, this is perhaps one of the main reasons that our prayers are not answered, and we saw that Yahweh WANTS to hear us and do us good, He WANTS to give us what our heart desires (Psalm 37:4). Yahweh is the same yesterday, today and forever, it does not change, so why would He withhold His blessings for us in the end times when He has granted and blessed the people of the past? Yahweh is not a respecter of person and does not show favoritism, contrary to what some might suggest. The fact that we have reached the end of time does not change Yahweh. As in the past, His greatest desire is to do good to His children, and to give them what they want as much as possible. But is what the children of Yahweh are asking consistent with the Will of their Heavenly Father? ***
(c) by J. M. Peeters - 2012
