Can I tell you something? There have been seasons in my life where the weight of disappointment just pressed in, and I’ve learned to hold onto finding faith after loss. That silent, aching feeling of things not turning out the way I prayed, planned, or even dared to hope—finding blessings in hard times. You know what I mean?
All those times I tried to fix things myself or wish away the ache, it only seemed to grow bigger. But when I learned to worship through disappointment, my perspective started to shift. Not overnight and not perfectly, but something changed—trusting God through waiting. That's what I want to talk about today—finding purpose in suffering. Not just dry theology or "Sunday answers," but how worship changes perspective and gratitude, even when our hearts feel empty. Especially then.
How Do We Begin to Worship Through Disappointment?
I remember sitting at my kitchen table in one of those "ashes" seasons. Not sure how to get up. Not sure if I wanted to. My heart was raw, disappointment thick in my chest. Have you ever been there—dealing with doubt as a Christian?
In our recent podcast episode, we unpacked what it means to worship through disappointment, including how to find God in hard times. It's not about faking joy or ignoring the hard stuff. It's about bringing your messy, honest self right to God. That's what He wants. He wants the unfiltered, unedited version of you. The tears, the silence, even the questions—Christian approach to mental health. Especially the gratitude whispered through gritted teeth.
For me, it looked like singing praise when I couldn’t see any reason to be thankful, and daily habits that build hope—how to practice gratitude daily. Gratitude practices for healing helped me thank God for His faithfulness even when I didn’t feel it. Telling Him, "You are good," before I believed my own words. That’s how worship through disappointment began for me—finding hope after loss by growing spiritually and embracing suffering. Baby steps. Small choices. You see, worship is a heart posture, not a mood or a music style. Gratitude is a practice, not a feeling, and spiritual self-care tips can help sustain it.
Simple Ways to Start When You Have Nothing Left
- Turn on a worship song even if you don't sing along
- List three small things you're thankful for today
- Pray honestly – God isn't put off by your questions
- Read a short Psalm aloud
- Ask God to remind you of one thing He's done for you
Not magical. Not instant. But real.
Why Worship Through Disappointment Changes Us From the Inside Out
Does this sound familiar? You’re overwhelmed. You feel like your “jars” or “buckets” are broken – finding hope after loss. You can’t even catch the good, let alone manage the hard stuff. I’ve been there. It’s in these moments that worship through disappointment becomes a lifeline.
I think about what the Bible says in Psalm 34:18 (CSB): "The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit." That verse wasn’t written for the easy seasons. It’s a promise for today, for your hardest day. Worship doesn’t pretend the pain isn’t real. Worship invites Jesus to sit right with you in it.
Here’s the thing. When we worship through disappointment, we stop focusing on what didn’t happen and remember who God is. Gratitude clears the fog. Even just a glimmer. Little by little, our hearts change from overwhelmed to overflowing, even if our circumstances don’t shift right away. God is present, and He honors our honest praise. He’s not waiting on our perfection, just our trust.
What Happens When We Offer Gratitude in the Hardest Moments?
- We become aware of God's nearness, not just our losses
- We begin to experience peace that doesn’t depend on answers
- We invite others to hope by showing up real (not polished)
- We remember who provides the overflow in any season
I’ve watched it in my own life and in our community. Worship is like opening a window when the room is stuffy. The air changes. Our perspective grows clear, even in disappointment.
What Spiritual Practices Can Help Us Worship Through Disappointment?
After years of walking with Jesus, I’ve learned that worship through disappointment isn’t about big moments, but about steady, practical choices. It’s about giving God the little bit we have, not waiting until our hearts "feel" full. On the podcast, we talked about daily faith practices that keep us connected, even in waiting or pain.
Daily Habits That Anchor Gratitude and Praise
- Start and end your day with a breath prayer – just a few words acknowledging God’s presence
- Write thank you notes to God (even for the tiny things)
- Turn your favorite worship song into a personal prayer
- Talk to someone you trust about what you’re grateful for, even on hard days
- Lay your disappointments at God’s feet every night – literally say them out loud
It’s not about doing more. It’s about letting God sit with you – sometimes in silence, sometimes with a hallelujah that’s barely a whisper. These steps invite God to move.
Letting Go of Expectations and Embracing God's Timing
I think sometimes we get stuck believing worship through disappointment means ignoring how we feel or pushing through on our own. But what if it’s actually about surrender? Offering God not just the outcome but the process.
I remember how heavy my expectations were in the hardest days. I thought I should be "further along." I thought I needed to get it all together before I could praise, before I could overflow. But worship through disappointment is about giving God what you have now, not later on when you hope to be okay. Even if you feel empty. Even if you’re still tired from the fight.
The good news? God never wastes a surrendered heart. When we let go of what we thought would happen and receive what He is offering today – peace, presence, daily bread, and just enough hope – that is overflow. That is victory in the middle of disappointment.
We Find Strength When We Choose Gratitude in Any Season
- Overflow starts with surrender, not striving
- Healing often comes before answers
- Our faith grows roots in the broken ground of disappointment
- Worship carries us when words run out
When your boat feels too heavy, when you’re taking on water, worship through disappointment means lightening the load. Letting God decide what stays and what goes. Trusting Him to provide what you need for the next stretch.
What Does Overflow Look Like After Disappointment Has Settled?
Can I be honest? Overflow doesn’t always look like a big comeback or a "glory story." Sometimes, it’s the quiet confidence that God is for you when nothing is changing yet. It’s your house filling up with love before it fills with stuff. It’s gratitude for the couch God sent your way before your Pinterest dreams come true.
Worship through disappointment taught me to see the small wins. That’s where God’s goodness lives. It’s in the neighbor who drops off a meal, the friend who prays you through, the moment your voice cracks but you sing anyway. That is overflow. That is hope coming back to life, piece by piece.
Jesus showed us the way. He didn’t wait for the cross to be lifted before He gave thanks (see Luke 22:19). He praised His Father right in the middle of pain, trusting that what looked like loss was holding resurrection inside it. That’s the kind of worship that changes lives. Simple, honest, grounded in trust, even when the ending isn’t exactly what we planned.
Friends, my encouragement is this. Worship through disappointment isn't about skipping the hard. It’s about letting worship be your anchor, your steady place, and your first breath when you have nothing left to give.
Let’s be people who praise, people who give thanks, people who offer God our everything even when it feels small. That’s where overflowing begins. Not because our circumstances are perfect, but because our God is present in every single one.
Want to hear more stories and practical tips on this? Go listen to the full episode. And remember, small shifts in perspective can bring big changes in your story. Let’s practice hope, together.
