“But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”
John 2:24-25
Have you ever been disillusioned?
I have.
It’s an awkward ordeal when it occurs. Often, it can lead to discouragement if not put in proper perspective. Have you ever been there? Job? Parenting? Ministry? Marriage? Relationships?
I recently read something from Oswald Chambers that brought clarity and genuine encouragement to this experience.
He framed disillusionment positively and argued, “Disillusionment means having no more misconceptions, false impressions, and false judgments in life; it means being free from these deceptions” (Utmost, July 30).
In essence, Chambers proposes that disillusionment dispels the ‘ideas’ of people or circumstances and allows you to see things or people as they are. It removes the mirage and lets you know the substance. At the point of seeing the ‘substance,’ you are dis-illusioned. At that point, your trust in the sufficiency of God replaces your trust in any person or thing. Incredible.
That’s why Chambers would say, “Our Lord’s confidence in God, and in what God’s grace could do for anyone, was so perfect that He never despaired, never giving up hope for any person. If our trust is placed in human beings, we will end up despairing of everyone” (Utmost, July 30).
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- Disillusionment is positive because it removes the facade of a person or circumstances and lets us see things for what they are.
- At that point of clarity, trust is shifted from a person(s) or thing(s) to God.
- Thus, hope is restored in the One who will never disappoint, and healthy interrelations with others have the soil from which to grow.
Disillusionment. A good thing. Even necessary.
God help us.
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