How To Deal With Disappointments

Tonight our text is found in Matthew 1:18-25 and the title of my message is, “How To Deal With Disappointments.”

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were finally successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground.  Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine.  “We have actually flown 120 feet.  Will be home for Christmas.”  Matthew 1:18
 
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

 Katherine hurried to the editor of their local newspaper and showed him the exciting news.  He glanced at it and said, “How nice, the boys will be home for Christmas.”

He had totally missed the big news—MAN HAD FLOWN!!  Many people today make this very same mistake when it comes to Christmas.  Instead of thinking about the miraculous birth of Jesus, they think about the pressure, stress, depression and disappointments associated with this time of year.

In Matthew 1:18 it says, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.” (NASB)

According to Jewish custom the time of betrothal was a twelve-month period of engagement that was an official, binding commitment, which could only be broken legally by divorce, or in the case of unfaithfulness by death from stoning.

Here in our text we find that it was during this time, before Mary and Joseph ever had any sexual relationship with each other that it was discovered Mary was pregnant.  Of course we know and believe that her pregnancy was miraculous through the power of the Holy Spirit, but the point is, Joseph didn’t know this and he was the one who was engaged to her.

As you could probably imagine, this would probably be the worst news a fiancé or husband could ever receive.  It must have been deeply disappointing for Joseph to hear this news.

I know that there are some of you who instead of thinking about the miracle of Christmas, only think about the disappointments associated with this time of year.  Some of you might be thinking about your finances right now and how disappointing it is not to have any to pay for your bills or to buy the gifts you’d like to give someone.  Others are thinking about how disappointing Christmas time is to you because of a bad experience you have had in the past at this time of year.  It might be that a loved one passed away during the holidays or you’ve lost your job, or you husband or wife has left you and you are down, discouraged and disappointed.

Everyone is going to experience disappointments some time or another in their life.  How many of you have been disappointed, TODAY!

Today I’d like to share with you how Joseph responded to the disappointing news he received and give you 5 ways to face the disappointments you’re going to experience in life.