You Can’t Disappoint God!
You can’t disappoint God. Let me say it one more time. You. Can’t. Disappoint. God. Right now you’re either breathing a sigh of relief or you’re thinking I don’t know what I’m talking about. Disappointing God is a lie we believe that can cause us to move away from God.
Our upbringing and life experiences has a pretty big impact on our thought life. If we grew up feeling like we were disappointing our parents or other significant people in our life, then we relate that to other relationships in our life as adults. Even our relationship with God.
I’m a first born gal who works very hard to shake off perfectionism. I’ve spent most of my adult life feeling like I’ve disappointed God. It’s a good thing feelings aren’t facts. However, me messing things up is a fact. We all have weaknesses and we all choose our own way over God’s way at times. Even in our poor choices, we don’t disappoint God. Let’s define disappointment first…
dis·ap·point
[ˌdisəˈpoint]
VERB
fail to fulfill the hopes or expectations of (someone):prevent (hopes or expectations) from being realized:
Take a good look at the definition. Friend- you and I are not powerful enough to keep God’s plans from being realized (Job 42:2). Our hope is in Christ, not the other way around. While there’s no specific verse that exactly says you can’t disappoint God, Scripture as a whole shows us that we simply can’t disappoint God. Here’s why…
“You are not powerful enough to keep God’s plans from being realized.”
We All Fall Short of His Glory
God already knew that we would fall short of His glory. He already knew that we needed a Savior hence the reason He sent Jesus. Jesus was sent to settle our account (justification), paying the price for our sin and opening the way for a relationship with God. He saved us at our darkest hour (Romans 5:8) and knew that we wouldn’t be able to earn salvation nor maintain it with working hard (Ephesians 2:8-9).
…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ~Rom 3:23
His Grace is Sufficient
Saved by grace is the reason we have new life in Christ. God knew that we would need grace for salvation. We need grace in our relationships, everyday life and in each and every moment we breathe. Jesus says His grace is enough. His. Grace. Is. Enough.
Have you ever iced a cake? The first layer is called the scratch layer. It’s all messy frosting with bread crumbs and tore off pieces of cake showing through. As you add each layer of frosting on top of the scratch layer, the cake gets more and more beautiful. That frosting is grace. Without Christ we’re just that scratch coat of frosting. God’s grace is more than enough.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ~2Corinthians 12:9
God’s Plan Can’t be Thwarted
God has everything all worked out. His plans will be accomplished. Nothing we do, think or say frustrates God’s plans. We’re not that powerful.
“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ~Job 42:2
God Will Be Glorified No Matter What
God will be glorified despite our mess ups. In God’s economy, He takes the worst things- the ashes and turns them into something beautiful (Is 61:1-3). He does this for His glory. That means He already knows that I’m going to mess it up and He already has a plan to use His grace (there’s that word again) to convert it into something beautiful for His glory and my growth.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.~Romans 8:28
It’s True… We Can’t Disappoint God!
I looked up the word “disappoint” in the concordance. Disappoint and disappointed are used in the Bible 5 times. Each time the word is used it is promising we will not be disappointed when we believe or put our hope in God. (Rom 5:5, Ps 22:5, Rom 9:33, Rom 10:11, 1 Pet 2:6) Take this truth to heart. You. Can’t. Disappoint. God.
Disappointing someone means you’re failure has kept them from realizing their plans. We are simply not powerful enough to thwart God’s plans (Job 42:2). He knew all along that we would fall short of His glory…that’s the reason for Jesus (Romans 3:23). God also knew that we would need grace. Grace abundantly and overflowing (2 Corinthians 12:9). Finally, nothing in God’s economy is wasted…even our weaknesses (Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 12:9) are used by Him for our good and His glory. I encourage you to stop living in fear that you are not enough. As far as Jesus is concerned- you are everything!
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Sometimes I feel like I am a disappointment to God because I fail a lot. I try to get back up and say I’ll do better but it doesn’t always work…
Hi Mary, Thank you for sharing how you’re feeling. I’ve been there too. That is the reason I took a closer look at God’s Word in this particular topic. Our feelings are really unreliable guides and are misleading. You are not a disappointment to Him! Remember, disappointment means you are keeping someone’s plans from being realized. We are simply not powerful enough to thwart the purposes of God. He knew we would fall short…the reason for Christ and His grace. God absolutely delights over you…all. the. time.!
Hi ! I guess my guilt comes in because of the things I have done and although I know He has forgiven me, it is hard to forgive myself. I thank Him for his grace, mercy, love, and patience.
False is teaching in the last day. We can disappoint God by our disobedience. It’s caused by grieving the Holy Spirit.
I’ve tried to fulfill a promise to God that I would give up illegal drugs, smoking cigarettes, and eating and drinking any kind of fluids for 24 hours and every night I pray that this will be the day but, I never for fill my word and and continue do the same thing over again. Am I so weak that I can’t even praise God by this one act of Love on my part just for 1 day? Please help me show my Lord how much I really Love and want to be close to him.
Hi Carmelo, pls do not feel condemned God see your heart. Breaking free from addiction is not a day job, its a process just continue to ask for God’s grace and try to leave friends who might stop you from this changing process.
Please keep on praying and studying the word even when you feel discourage and ask for grace to abstain from drugs
Hey Carmelo hope all is well with you ????????
Carmelo, just as it tells us in Jeremiah 1:5, He knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb. He knows what you did yesterday, today, and what you’ll do tomorrow. It’s a very difficult struggle sometimes, but we are born to a body of sin; this is not permission to sin mind you, nor an excuse, but an explanation as to why it’s so difficult! Romans 7:14-15 really defines the crises we go through each and every day in our struggles. God will see you through. If you truly want him to know how much you love Him, praise Him deeply each and every day. Read His word back to Him out loud, then pray. If you get stuck in your prayers, the Holy Spirit will see you through. It tells us iin Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. The Holy Spirit will speak for you when you cannot. You are greatly loved.
I feel right now I disappointed God and I feel discouraged should I feel this way
We can’t rely on our feelings, Faith. We have to depend on what God’s Word says- and the verses in this article point to our inability to disappoint God!
My mental health is horrible right now. Absolutely.
Swearing to God I won’t smoke cigarettes again and if i ever do again, he can make me sick. then forgetting if I even said that. Then a voice comes in my head telling me to smoke or else I’ll get sick if I don’t. I honestly repent so much. I am so, so sorry that I broke my promise because I dont know who I am listening to or if I even said that in the first place. Then I feel so so sick in The stomach that I have disapointed God and that he will punish because I broke my promise and admit I am so mentally ill that my mind dosnt mean to pray like that. I know now not to bargain, I never ment to. I am so scared he is going to make me sick because I went back on a promise I didn’t mean to make or even know if I made l, or if it is just my head telling me I said that to make me feel bad. If that makes sence. I would NEVER say something and not care about it to God. I know I have mental health issues and this is making it so much harder on me as I fear that I have accidentally asked God to make me sick. Or will he know my heart and know that it is something I do not mean and forgive me and not make me sick. I honestly hope and pray for forgiveness. I know he is forgiving and gentle and dose not harm. I am scared I have accidently asked for sickness if I smoked cigarettes, then did because of a voice. Will he forgive me, knowing I am a very good person just going through mental issues that I am working on getting help with? I love him and I know he loves us. I just am living with this absolute fear that he now will strike me and say, oh well you broke your promise. Please please help me indeed to know it will be ok. It is eating at me x
Hi Jo,
I can really sympathise with your comment. I am going through something very similar and struggle with these feelings where I get intrusive thoughts and then tell God that I promise to ignore them in the future but I end up breaking that promise out of fear. Then I feel guilty and repent and the cycle seems to repeat. I feel very fearful that I am disappointing God and that my relationship with Him is being damaged, and I pray that He can forgive me and guide me on the right path. Just know you’re not alone, keep believing in God and trust him to make these positive changes for you. Here are some verses to help you with this:
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
God bless you.
You are not alone with that but this article helped me alot😁
I know, so many dark thoughts and actions. Overeating; doubts in faith; porn addictions; laziness; there are just too many to count. I pray to Him, ask Him for things, in return, I promised to cut some bad habits completely, He always deliver perfectly yet it’s not even a month before I fall back to my old ways.
In my mind there is always a sad looking Jesus, just shaking His head in disappointment…
Hey Chad, It sounds like you are trying hard to fix yourself when what you need is to surrender to God and let Jesus do the transforming. We need a heart change not a behavior change. Behavior changes will come when Jesus does his thing inside of us.If you need help understanding how to cooperate with God’s plan, I wrote a Bible Study book for this very purpose titled Knowing Better. You can check ot out at http://www.beingbetter.org. If you need it to be free there is an option for that.
Thank you
God bless you.
Thanks for stopping by, Mira:)
Thank you. I needed to read this. It helped me,. Glory to God because im not able to disappoint Him!. Thanks for sharing. Shalom!
Hi Mar! I’m so glad you found this helpful:)
I not worried that I might do something to “thwart” God’s plans. I already know that I don’t have the power to do that. But I do have a deep, sincere, longing desire to please God and play my part to help advance His Kingdom. I want to serve Him as faithfully and diligently as I can. But I have no clue how to do that. I pray every day (several times a day), I am trying to improve my habits around reading my Bible and doing my devotionals, but I still have no idea what exactly I’m supposed to be doing for Him. I attend church and/or Bible Study every week, I’ve already signed up to volunteer at church and I’m trying to grow bolder in my faith so that I can share the Gospel whenever I get the chance. But we are also called to serve others because, when we serve others, we serve God. But I haven’t figured out specifically how I’m supposed to serve others yet.
And in the meantime, I feel like I’m failing God as His daughter and it breaks my heart. 💔
Elle, when you seek the Lord you are pleasing Him. We seek when we look to Him, talk to Him, ask of Him, search for answers, basically any time we think on Him we are seeking. To be a living sacrifice means to trust in, rely on and believe in Him. You are doing that. It doesn’t mean to work harder to be perfect. When we offer prayers, we are giving sacrifice. If you will allow yourself to just rest knowing that He loves you just as you are and stop “working” so hard to prove to Him your sincerity and desire to please Him you will see your spirit come into His Peace. You heart will be transformed from the inside out not the outside in. He resides within us. It is obvious you love Him, now make it obvious to other that you know He loves you for just being you. God bless and may your peace be sooner that later. Amen
HI My Name is Juanita
I came across your web page in search of understanding if I was disappointing God. I love to serve in Ministries, recently due to my vehicle issue I cannot serve at one ministry I really want to be part of because there is no bus route that run in the night, however another opportunity in serving has opened up where I am able to attend because is in the morning where bus routes are available, and I also enjoy even more. I felt I was letting God down by not attending the night one anymore. I really needed to hear a positive biblical truth that I cannot disappoint God, and that He has a plan for my life in His work no matter how things mess up. thank you
Hi Juanita! Thank you for sharing. We definitely can’t disappoint God:) I even wonder if He was redirecting you Himself by closing the doors to the night study. Blessings!
Reading this was a like a shower of blessing to my soul. God bless continue blessing your life!
Thank you, Joselyn!
Hello my name is Faith and I feel just like Katie I read the response you gave Katie it helps me so much
this is really helpful, thanks, most times am scared of going into his presence or talking to him cos I feel unworthy, I keep doing the same thing over and over again, I was scared of hurting him, I keep telling him am sorry yet go back to the same T, it’s hard as I can’t share this with anyone, am scared of what this is doing to me, drawing me away from God, but still I can’t stop it… I am so sad that I keep hurting the holy spirit in me….
Hi Kathie, Thank you for sharing so transparently. I want to encourage you- don’t be scared to enter into the presence of God. When we fall short and mess up (we all do), that is the best place to go. It is where you find grace. I have to bible verse for you: Philippians 4:13, 1 John 1:9 I’m praying for you!
hello, lately i’ve been trying to kick out masturbation completely from my life but it just ain’t working and i feel so guilty i feel like i’m a dissapointment to God. But thanks to this webpage i now know that i am not. I really need help and i pray God guides and blesses you
I’m writing this comment tears are running through my face, I really thought I was through with masturbation, i’ve been refraining from this sin for so long and today I relapsed, now I’m afraid of calling on God and Jesus, I really disappointed them.
I wish I could give you a hug right now, I had the sane problem with pornography, but ill advice you watch online sermons on the gift of righteousness and search scriptures as well so you understand better
hello, lately i’ve been trying to kick out masturbation completely from my life but it just ain’t working and i feel so guilty i feel like i’m a dissapointment to God. But thanks to this webpage i now know that i am not. I really need help and i pray God guides and blesses you
I’m scared and i ask God for forgiveness but still do it all the time.
hello, lately i’ve been trying to kick out masturbation completely from my life but it just ain’t working and i feel so guilty i feel like i’m a dissapointment to God. But thanks to this webpage i now know that i am not. I really need help and i pray God guides and blesses you
I’m scared and i ask God for forgiveness but still do it all the time. And i don’t how to stop it and live a pure life
Etounou Rose
I struggled with masturbation and pornography for a long time. God has and still is setting me free. Living a pure life is truly a daily walk. Being cleansed by the word and submitting to the holy spirit and allowing Him to lead and guide your life is the way to stay pure. Also, having people in your life that you can go to for prayer and accountability in your time of weakness. Once you come through strengthened others who are going through it. I read a book called At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry by Steve Gallagher. That book is an amazing tool to not only help the person at war with sexual immorality, but is also a good manual for the person who is overcoming and ready to battle for others who are stuck in the lifestyle. May your deliverance come soon! Be encouraged! Yeshua our lord can deliver you from that corruption!
I also need to this and for me it’s also maturation. Its good to know I am not the only one struggling with it. It’s the guilt that kills me and it’s not an easy thing to talk about. I do thank God for this site
My fear of the current situation in the world and my worry that is disappointing to God led me to seek out this message. I want to always live in joy and praise. I can say the words, but I’m still fearful. Thank you for this message. I worship an awesome God and I want to be an awesome daughter!
Hi Bonnie! These times are scary, but nothing is too big or hard for God! Thank you for sharing:)
Thank you so much for this. Sometimes I feel that not only do I disappoint the Lord, but I’m also not worthy of his love andpritection. I failed and forever doomed because of not so wise choices I have made in the past. Its really an awful feeling =(
HI Socorro, i feel the exact same way. I made one particular decision that God did not want me to make and did things my own way and now i feel like i have messed up God’s plans and God has no need for me anymore.
That exact feeling was what made me come online and I am so grateful i came across this blog! i feel a new surge of hope! God knows you better than you know yourself and He knew the mistakes you would make. The best part is, He will still glorify Himself with and through all of that. Be encouraged! God bless you
Noni, You are absolutely right, you are not the only one struggling with this. As you and God walk together toward freedom, check out this article to give you some peace in the battle. https://sunshynegray.com/overcome-shame-based-thinking-guilt/
I feel like I’ve been stuck in this cycle of disappointing God for a long time. For me it’s not a cycle of sin, but more of a feeling that I want to do his will so bad, but I don’t know what it is. When I think I hear his voice I’ve tried to step out and be obedient then I fall on my face. Then I get confused if I’m even hearing his voice. Now it seems like I never hear him clearly even though I’m listening more than ever. I think there is some sort of blocker rooted to me feeling like I’m disappointing him. Thank you for writing this. It has given me new perspective!!
I’m so glad it was helpful, David. I have the same desire to do His will and please Him. But we have to remember that we can do nothing apart from Him- He strengthens us, and His grace is sufficient for us…even in our weakness. In fact, His power is made perfect in our weakness!
I’ve been feeling the same way for a while. Like I want to do his will but also condemned and disappointed like I’m not doing the right thing or doing enough. Every night I cry and ask God to change my heart if the problem was me. Reading your article has really uplifted me. Now I no that his plan will endure and I don’t have to feel condemned everyday.
I’ve been working to mature spiritually and not respond with sin or anger ect. when bad things happen. Over the years I’ve gotten better, but I keep thinking I should be further along. I feel guilt for feeling hurt when I am wronged by others. I keep thinking if Christ endured so much, and I am made in his image, I should be like him and withstand insults without feelings of hurt. I keep feeling like I’m disappointing God. I am so happy I read your blog. I have way more work to do, but this helped.
Hi Ashley! I believe it’s totally normal to experience hurt feelings when insulted. That is not a sin. What we do and how we respond to the insults is where we reach a fork in the road. Do we respond in a Christ like manner-entrusting it to God, walking away or do our own thing? I believe God uses those hurts and emotions to drive us into His loving arms. And, we all have way more work to do…take heart and stand firm!
It is truly beautiful that you take the time out to respond to all the comments. God bless you and Shalom❤️
Thank you, Marie! Blessings!
I searched for something to help me and this has helped. I feel like on an disappointing God because of fear. Of course we are fearful for what we are experiencing currently in the world. I pray daily for our world, our leaders but I’m also in the middle of a medical issues (acid reflux, gerd, hiatal hernia,) and I’m going for testing tomorrow. I’m just fearful and I feel my prayers are not pleasing or disappointing God because I’m distracted by fear instead of Faith.
Thank you for this insight on God’s love for us in spite of us ..
Michelle
Hi Michelle, Thank you for taking the time to share your heart. I believe God delights to be in relationship with you, hearing your voice and having you as part of His family today and for eternity💕 I’m lifting you up and your appointment tomorrow, right now!
This really helped me!
There are times I feel I have disappointed God and that He is frustrated with me. But that is not the truth!
And when I feel that way creeping up I will remind myself not to go down that dark hole.
It is just a lie from the enemy who wants to keep me in shame and condemnation and hopelessness.
I refuse to bounded by this anymore!
Cori – My thoughts are similar to you with regards to feeling like God is frustrated and disappointed in me at times. Thank you for the reminder that this is a scheme of the enemy to keep me in shame, condemnation and hopelessness.
Sunshyne – this was a beautiful and timely message. So thankful for the Lord’s work in giving you the courage and willingness to be transparent and to help others who struggle with similar lies.
I’ve been feeling the same way for a while. Like I want to do his will but also condemned and disappointed like I’m not doing the right thing or doing enough. Every night I cry and ask God to change my heart if the problem was me. Reading your article has really uplifted me. Now I know that his plan will endure and I don’t have to feel condemned everyday.
Hi Leo! So glad you were encouraged:) Once we are aware that we can’t disappoint God, we become free to live in His favor- because that is what you are, Leo, favored by the Most High at the moment of conversion.
I have disappointed God and those that I love, I live in shame and guilt and pray all the time for healing and restoration do that I can start to be a blessing here on earth to make up for all the mistakes I have made.
Kim, You never have to “make up” for your past- God’s grace is sufficient to wash away the past! Check out this article about forgiving yourself (because God has forgiven you already)… https://sunshynegray.com/how-forgive-yourself-move-on/
Thank you for this article. I’m a pastor’s wife of 20 years and somehow in the last 6 months I have slipped down a slope of deep insecurity and feeling like I have failed God and others, and definitely myself. What you said about “God does not put his hope in us” really helped shine light on the fog of lies covering my mind. I’m going to just hold on to that….my hope is in God not the other way around. Oh to be able to really see God’s gracious view of me, it would bring such healing!
I read once, if we saw ourselves through the lens of Christ, we would be the most confident people on earth! His love abounds:)
As I looked up Can I Disappoint God this morning because of my thoughts and something that I’ve been asking Him for, I wondered if I was disappointing Him. Thank you for allowing God to use you as His vessel to break it down like you have with scripture.
I’m so glad you were encouraged! Knowing we can’t disappoint God is a huge weight removed:)
I don’t even know if this will get a reply, because this was posted a little while ago. Maybe someone will relate though. I’ve recently started college and I moved into my dorm and started a college experience I thought I would love. God has always been a major role in my life, I could not have gotten through my last semester without him. I absolutely dreaded anytime I had to go back to campus and the added stress of me worrying over classes all the time did not help. I prayed alot and felt so weak. I made it through the semester but it was the most lonely and weak I’ve felt in a long time. When it came time to return to campus, I became very upset, much like I had during the first semester. I prayed, I did not want to give up, but I could not imagine doing another semester like I had before. So, I decoded to transfer to a local community College where I could commute from home. I still have my same major and a plan worked out. But now I’m starting to feel like God’s disappointed in me for not wanting to go through campus life with Him alone. I know I should be able to. And now I’m worried I’m missing out on something God had in store for me because I do t want to go back. I really do t want to be as unhappy as I was, if I dont have to be.
Hi Sara- A couple of thoughts- First, you can’t thwart the purposes of God. He has a plan for your life and you are not able to mess those plans up! Those aren’t my words, they are His (Job 42:2). Also, He uses everything for our good-even college choices (Romans 8:28). Hope this encourages you! If you would like to talk more to work through the anxiety check out this link: https://sunshynegray.com/christian-counseling/
I have felt I have given God a bad name because of the bad name I given myself and those that know Im a Christian made me think I disappointed God. This article changes my belief.
I have done messy and bad things in the past. I thank God and you I read this. I have tried to forgive myself but recently I found myself repeating the same sin. My outside appearance is opposite of what I feel inside. I want peace inside but I can’t because I feel am a disappointment. Kindly advice.
Thank you for this article and for the Biblical references. I am in counseling with a counselor who has a doctorate in theology, and when I said I was afraid of disappointing God, she said that was selfish and thinking more highly of myself than I thought but didn’t explain why or give me scripture. I was stunned into silence and have since been looking for Scripture on my own to support her statements. Thank you for providing the scriptural references and a loving response to the question of whether we can disappoint God. I have downloaded your forgiveness workbook and am looking forward to healing. Blessings!
We may not disappoint God but Eph. 4:30 tells us that people who are saved can grieve God when we sin. Our sins are paid for by faith in Jesus Christ once for all, but our sin as Christians still seems to effect God.
Gods plan of salvation can not be thwarted but is that the only plan you were referring to in the blog? If you mean Gods general will for us and what He calls us to do, than yes we can definitely disrupt that plan when we sin. If you mean the permitted plan that God foreknew and is involved in to a certain degree than no we can’t do much to change that because it’s foreknown.
Please correct me if I’m wrong.
This article was so helpful to me. I’ve struggled so long with self-reliance I don’t know any other way to live so when I decided finally to really surrender it all to the Lord (by His grace) I kind of panicked…I cried to Him in prayer that I don’t know what I’m doing (even though I was messing stuff up before on my own) the thought of failing Him trying to do it His way was overwhelming & horrifying!! This article helped me to see my main job is to show up & trust Him, I can be weak and clueless & He will show up strong & faithful…His plans cannot be thwarted & His strength made perfect in my weakness- His grace is sufficient & He’ll work it all together for my good…He’s done this from Genesis to Revelation!! Thank you! ❤️
I feel so blessed by this! God bless you ma’am.
Hey I hope I’ll get response. My disappointment is I prayed to God for a new job which he gave me…I promised to tithe the first ever money I get but I didn’t do that since the money came in when my family was really broke and I just used it for food….I really felt like I didn’t put God first!!!!