Go Into 2024 Free of Disappointment
One of the things the Lord has been showing me in this season is that He desires to deal with the sting of disappointment in the hearts of His people. The Lord has been stressing the importance of dealing with this before we head into 2024. Don't wait till January. Go into 2024 free of disappointment.
What is disappointment? Disappointment is "the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one's hopes or expectations" (encyclopedia.com). Disappointment can also be "the unhappiness or discouragement that results when your hopes or expectations have not been satisfied, or someone or something that is not as good as you had hoped or expected" (Cambridge Dictionary).
Many of God's people have been in a stuck place, a hurt place, and in a place of unfulfillment. Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV) declares, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." When it says in this verse that "hope deferred makes the heart sick," it's not meaning your physical heart. This word in the Hebrew (leb) is referring to your soul man (inner man).
We are made of body, soul, and spirit. Our spirit can be strong, but if we don't tend to our soul, it can take us out. Our soul is made up of our mind, will, emotions, capacity, and our belief systems. When we have heart sickness, it's because we've come into agreement with a lie or perception that is contrary to God. It's important to keep our soul healthy in the midst of disappointments, unfulfilled hopes and expectations, and the things that try to take our heart out. Let God be Jehovah Jireh of your emotions. He's more than enough to meet anywhere you lack, even in your emotions. We keep our hearts healthy by daily washing ourselves with the Word, mediating on the promises of God, and declaring them until they manifest in our lives. (Photo via Pexels)
A Year of Restoration: From the Valley of Trouble to a Gateway of Hope
When our hearts become sick, we become unanchored to hope. In 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT), it says, "Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." Hope is not a wishful thought or an emotional feeling. Hope is an eternal truth anchored in the eternal realm of God. We can anchor ourselves in the hope of God because we have a hope that does not disappoint (Romans 5:5). If you're needing hope, there is an unending supply found in Jesus Christ, because He is the hope of glory.
In Hosea 2:15 (NLT) it declares, "I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt." In other translations, the Valley of Trouble is named the Valley of Achor. Achor was the place where Achan and his family were stoned to death and then burned because of Achan's disobedience and sin. Achan's sin caused a disconnect from God and His people. When Joshua and the people went to fight AI, a city they should have easily defeated, they were instead humiliated in defeat. Once Achan's sin was dealt with in the camp, God was able to restore His people back to Himself.
Is there something that has caused a disconnect in your relationship with God? Maybe it's not as drastic as Achan's sin, but it's something that's hindering your connection and relationship with the Lord.
The Lord keeps speaking to me that 2024 will be a year of restoration. What is restoration? Restoration is "a return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition"; "the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment," and "restitution of something taken away or lost" (Collins Dictionary).
When restoration takes place, communion with God is restored, which leads to our hope being restored. When hope is restored, personal revival and renewal can take place. God desires to make all things new in your life. I prophesy over you that your Valley of Trouble is turning into a gateway of hope. In this season of the door, God is bringing you out of the low place into a door of hope. He is the Door of Hope and the Gateway of Hope. I prophesy that your season of disappointment is changing to a season of hope and joy.
Those Who Sow Their Tears as Seeds Will Reap a Harvest with Joyful Shouts of Glee!
Lastly, as you allow God to take disappointment from your heart, it will not only give room for hope to grow, but joy as well. Joy is one of the greatest weapons of warfare we have. In Proverbs 17:23 (NIV) it says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Joy is a safeguard to our spirits being crushed. Joy is a supernatural substance, and it comes from the Lord. It infuses us with supernatural strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). (Photo via PxHere)
You may have come into this year or December in tears, but I declare that God is supernaturally shifting your tears to shouts of joyful laughter. It says this in Psalm 126:4-6 (TPT): "Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of Your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again. Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee. They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!"
I want to encourage you that God has seen every frustration and tear you've cried. He is using your tears to water the harvest of joy and restoration that you will carry in 2024. Keep your heart tender. 2024 is a year of double. In Isaiah 61:7 (NKJV) it prophesies, "Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be theirs." Hold on to this promise as you enter 2024. For many it's been a "Job" year, a time of great testing and loss. God is faithful. Not only will He restore what's been lost, but He will also multiply it to overflowing in your life. Allow God to remove the sting of disappointment from 2023 so you can walk into 2024 with hope and joy, ready to receive what God has for you.
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Madeline James
Madeline James Ministry
Email:Â nabispen@gmail.com
Website:Â prophetmj.com
Madeline James is an emerging prophetic writer and voice who desires to release the heart of the Father, and be a tuning fork for the Body of Christ. She operates in the seer and revelatory realm. Her heart is to release revelation and wisdom that will help propel and push the Body of Christ forward. Madeline is the author of Rooted In Love, Declaring Your Morning, co-author of Emerge, and the blogger of the prophetic blog Nabi's Pen. She resides in Lexington, KY with her husband Richie and their two daughters.
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