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"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.." — Ephesians 3:17-19
Dear readers,
I’m drafting these newsletters in any season of my life, and some of those seasons aren’t pretty.
While I’m more often in a great place, there are times when everything seems to crumble apart, in my head.
One of the seasons I’m well acquainted with is the ‘season of disappointment’.
Disappointment for not being in life where I want to be.
Or for feeling lonely despite the friendships that I have.
Or for not seeing the results I hoped for.
If I’m being 100% transparent here, I have been mulling over the idea of quitting Born to Fly's newsletters and podcast lately.
The reason?
Why would I go to such length, investing so much time, effort, and energy for nearly 500 subscribers, when I could use that same time for relaxing at night?
It didn’t seem worth it anymore.
The thriving (online and offline) community it once was has been reduced to two forms of content—which I give my all to but look minimal in comparison to what it was.
In the end, you got this newsletter, so you know I’ve decided to continue.
Why I share this is to show you that the road of a creator—of an entrepreneur—is not a straight one. It’s not linear, and it doesn’t always make sense (just like Michelle Myers (founder She Works His Way) says in this podcast episode).
Another reason is that although disappointment is an emotion that is allowed, most of the time it’s an overaction from my mind that I give space to take root.
That’s where it goes wrong. The deeper it takes root, the more power it gets to affect me.
Good thing I serve a God who helps me through these (mental) battles and reminds me of what is important (like encouraging nearly 500 readers).
When you read about how wide, long, high, and deep the love of God is (Ephesians 3), have you ever thought about what that means?
I didn’t.
But I learned in church this Sunday. And I want to explain the depth of God's love because it applies to the seasons of disappointment.
One of the sacrifices the Israelites had to do for forgiveness, was one where one goat was slaughtered and the other sent away into the wilderness.
The scapegoat was destined to die a death of dehydration in the valley.
As we know, Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, being the goat who shed its blood and the scapegoat who took away all of our sins. At his very last moments, Jesus was thirsty (John 19:28). Jesus was in the valley.
The depth of God’s love goes as deep as the valley.
Your valley of shadows.
My valley of disappointment.
Rock bottom.
When we read about the valley of shadows of death in Psalm 23, we also read that God is there with us. That He’s preparing a table before you IN THAT VALLEY in the presence of your enemies.
Because Jesus was in the valley, He knows what you are going through.
Instead of just pushing you through it, He is preparing a table in the midst of it all. He’s sending a message; this child is with Me—as long as we invite Him, of course.
On top of that, He anoints your head with oil so that once you are out of your valley, you, in turn, can help others who go through the same valley.
Isn’t that a marvelous deep love?
I was blown away!
So, whatever valley you are in, invite Him in. He’s not only there with you, but He’s also preparing a table and anointing you.
The last thing I want to do is share my prayer for the ‘disappointed’ that I prepared for Prayer Night at my church.
As you read the words of the prayer, pray it to uplift yourself or—if you are not disappointed at the moment—pray it over others.
Thanks for being with me on this journey of Born to Fly.
A journey of finding ways to travel the road of solopreneurship with God, in full confidence and without falling for the trap of hurry or any other lies of the enemy.
Blessings,
Jane
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Prayer for the disappointed
I pray for the ones who are disappointed because they don’t experience You move;
They failed their exams again;
They are rejected by a parent or friend;
They don’t get pregnant;
They envisioned different careers;
They expected more fruits from their endeavors,
They’re still waiting for a miracle;
They’re still waiting for a breakthrough.
Lord, comfort their hearts, embrace them with Your love, and set them free from disappointment.
You are not the God of disappointment, You’re a God who is compassionate, gracious, loyal, slow to anger, overflowing in love. That’s who you are (Exodus 34:6).
Give them thoughts and desires that align with Yours.
Fill their hearts with the things You want from them.
Renew their thinking and give them hope. Hope for the things unseen, the things that are yet to come.
May disappointment change into peace and comfort.
May they know that You are in control. You will be, and always have been.
Take their shackles off, clear up their minds, uplift their hearts, and cover them with grace.
Protect their minds from the lies and schemes of the enemy. Help them to see the truth and not lose sight of it.
The enemy’s lies can never outshine Jesus’ truth, His words, His love.
I break every lie that the enemy put into people’s heads, of the disappointed, I break the thoughts holding people captive in disappointment, in Jesus’ name.
We bring it all to Jesus and let Jesus rinse the minds of those who need it.
Jesus, show Your love.
Make it known.
Make it sensible.
Give the disappointed unwithering hope.
Hope and peace that can’t be stolen. The peace out of this world that only You can give, Jesus.
Holy Spirit, make known in the right people that You are seeing them.
Make them feel it.
Make them joyful.
Erase the disappointment.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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