We’ve all been there.
The door doesn’t open. The opportunity slips away. The relationship ends. The dream feels further than ever. And in the quiet when you find yourself alone, disappointment sits heavy on your chest like a weight you can’t shake.
And that’s when it starts.
The whispers.
The lies.
“You’re not good enough.”
“You missed your chance.”
“You were never really called.”
“Maybe God didn’t choose you after all.”
Have you heard them? I have.
I was recently challenged while on a health coaching training by a mentor that disappointments will come, but they don’t define you or determine how well you are doing. As she shared, my heart could identify wholeheartedly. She broke down the word disappointment to “not appointed.” As a leader, how many times do we judge our success or impact, not by our obedience but by our success? When that doesn’t measure up, we begin to believe that small lie that we aren’t called to do whatever it is we are doing. We are not qualified or not good enough.
Disappointment doesn’t just bruise your hope—it messes with your identity. Amid letdown, it’s easy to confuse a season of disappointment with a statement about who you are.
But hear me: Disappointment is not disqualification.
If you’re feeling like everything’s falling apart, it might be because something deeper is being built. Something lasting. Something true.
We sometimes believe that if we’re called, if we’re truly “appointed” by God, the path will be smooth. Doors will swing open. People will cheer. Success will follow.
But read your Bible.
Joseph was appointed—in a pit.
David was anointed—in obscurity.
Jesus was the Messiah—crucified.
Appointment often looks nothing like what we imagined. It’s forged in silence, suffering, waiting, and wrestling. But it’s real.
The Lie: “You’re Not Appointed.” That lie is sneaky. It shows up when plans fall apart and progress stalls. It dresses up as logic and realism:
– “If this were really God’s will, it would’ve worked out.”
– “I should be further along by now.”
– “Maybe I misunderstood what I thought He told me.”
But the truth?
God’s appointment isn’t voided by your disappointment.
You are still called. Still chosen. Still seen. Even in the silence. Especially in the silence.
So What Do You Do?
When disappointment hits, and the lie comes knocking, here are three ways to fight back:
1. Remember Who Appointed You
You weren’t self-appointed. This wasn’t your idea. God saw something in you before you were born. He’s not second-guessing His decision just because you’re struggling today.
2. Refuse to Measure by Visible Results
Fruit takes time. Faithfulness matters more than flash. Just because it’s not visible doesn’t mean it’s not valuable.
3. Speak the Truth—Out Loud
“I am called.”
“I am equipped.”
“This disappointment doesn’t define me—God does.”
Say it until your heart believes it. Again and again.
Friend, this season may be rough. The road may be unclear. But don’t for one second believe that your appointment has been canceled.
You’re not disqualified.
You’re not forgotten.
You’re not done.
This isn’t the end of your story. It might just be the beginning of the chapter where everything changes.
