Handling Disappointments

I recently shared these thoughts from John 3: 22-30 as a devotional with our Presbytery. The verse that really caught my attention was John saying, "That joy is mine, and it is now complete" (John 3:29).

Have you ever been disappointed? If we are honest, everyone of us will answer, "yes." John the Baptist's disciples were disappointed. They had been following John. Now they were seeing people leave their group and begin following Jesus and his disciples. Both Jesus and John were now baptizing in the same area of the Jordan River. How quickly envy and jealousy can take hold of us when we see someone else being blessed in some way. John's disciples apparently had forgotten the words of John some days earlier when he had said concerning Jesus, "Behold the Lamb of God" (John 1:35). It was a defining moment in John's ministry.

The disappointment of some of John's disciples was apparent in their complaint, "The one you testified about - well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him" (John 3:26).

How did John answer their disappointment? How did he handle the moment? He compared himself to that of a bridegroom's best man (attendant). Today in our culture, who do most people focus their attention on at a wedding? The bride. To be honest, the bridegroom is of little interest. The best man is of even of smaller importance. But John points out that his joy is complete in being the attendant to the Bridegroom.

Several things to notice about John's complete joy:

1. His joy is the result of knowing who he was not. John said, "I am not the Christ." Maybe its time for us to be authentic believers. Stop trying to be the "savior" who works out all the problems in someone else's life. Maybe it's time to acknowledge the the limits of what we can do or can't do. Maybe its time to be ourself and stop trying to be someone we are not.

2. John knew his role in the scheme of things and just did what he was suppose to do. He was an attendant to the Bridegroom. If a door needed to be opened, he did it. He was available to serve, not be served. Seeing and hearing the bridegroom was enough. Knowing that the Bridegroom was pleased with his service brought him joy. Later Jesus would say of John, "I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matthew 11:11).

3. John readily accepted one of the great paradoxes of the Kingdom of God. "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30). John knew something that we all need to take and hide in our heart if we want real joy. The more we increase the less joy we have. The more we decrease the more joy we experience. Think about that for awhile and you will begin to find joy and happiness, in the middle of disappointing circumstances That will be when you will be able to say with John, "My joy is complete."