Song Spotlight: Highlands (Song of Ascent)
by Makayla Guzman
Have you ever felt disappointed in God? Have you ever felt let down by Him in regards to the hopes and expectations you had for your life? Maybe you dreamed of getting into a certain college that rejected your application. Maybe you are watching all of your friends receive attention from significant others while you feel invisible and so, so single. Maybe you were overlooked for an opportunity at your job or at school that was instead given to someone you believe is less deserving. It is easy to thank the Lord when things seem to be going well, but how can we be grateful and praise Him even when we feel overwhelmed by disappointment?
Consider this command in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
It is not a sin to be disappointed, even with God. Disappointment is a feeling that the dictionary defines as “sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one's hopes or expectations”. Disappointment is an amoral emotion, meaning, it is not inherently good or bad. How you respond to that emotion determines whether you step into sin or allow your life to be a testimony that gives glory to the Lord. Does your disappointment lead you to be angry with God, withhold yourself from serving others, or to be bitter towards those who seem to have a better life than you? Or does your disappointment propel you to seek after God, be honest with him through prayer about your feelings, and surround yourself with other believers to remind you of God’s character and plan?
One of the most comforting songs that reminds me to seek the Lord in all circumstances is Highlands (Song of Ascent) by Hillsong. The words are such a good reminder that in the highs and lows of life, our Savior can be trusted.
The chorus sums it up beautifully:
I will praise You on the mountain
And I will praise you when the mountain’s in my way
You're the summit where my feet are
So I will praise You in the valleys all the same
No less God within the shadows
No less faithful when the night leads me astray
'Cause You're the heaven where my heart is
In the highlands and the heartache all the same
It is an honest expression of worship that fully acknowledges the human experience of walking in valleys of disappointment, valleys of betrayal, valleys of grief. But it is also a declaration that God is faithful, our constant steady foundation, and the source of all joy.
When faced with disappointment, here are some questions to ask yourself.
Do you believe that God is good, just, and sovereign? The actions of our lives always flow out of a deep rooted belief, whether that belief is true or false. For example, if someone struggles with wanting to be in control all the time, they might have an inaccurate belief that God is not powerful or that he does not care. Another example in a more positive light is when someone is able to express true joy in the midst of deep grief over a loved one’s death, they likely believe that God will keep his promise to one day make a new creation and wipe every tear from their eyes.
When it comes to wrestling with disappointment over our unmet expectations, I would encourage you to turn introspectively for a moment and consider if you really believe that God is good. Do you believe that he will act justly and that he is sovereign (aka has ultimate power) over all things?
Show me your behaviors, and I’ll show you what you believe.
Read the following passages: 1 John 1:8-10, Ephesians 1:11-12, Psalm 31:19
Have you made an idol out of your expectations? Let me be clear, it is not wrong to desire and plan for things in life (baseline assumption that those things are not sinful). To wish to have a boyfriend or girlfriend is not bad. To work towards attending a specific school is not bad. But to hold your hopes, dreams, and wishes with a tightly clenched fist is a sign that you have turned them into an idol. When your plans are derailed, do you blame God? When the door is closed on certain opportunities, do you turn first to self-pity or to villainizing others?
Read the following passages: Exodus 20:3-6, Colossians 3:1-11
Do you believe that God’s will can be trusted? Hard truth - if you are currently struggling with believing God is good, just, and sovereign, you will not be able to sincerely pray for His will to be done in your life. I don’t say that from a spirit of judgment, rather I would simply encourage you to spend time meditating on the Scripture passages above as the building blocks for this idea.
Believing that Christ is the Author and Perfecter of our faith and that His will is perfect is just one side of the coin; the other side is understanding that His ways are not our ways. It is a double understanding of His greatness and our humility. When we are faced with the disappointment of unmet expectations, one way that we can praise God is by remembering that His plan is perfect, that his timing is perfect, and his calling on our lives is perfect. Believing that His will can be trusted is a tether that can ground us when our perspective becomes too inner-focused.
Read the following passages: Romans 12:1-2, Isaiah 55:6-9, 1 John 2:15-17
REFLECTION
Listen to Highlands (Song of Ascent) and go for a prayer walk
What are some expectations that you have in life? Good, bad, or neutral - consider finishing the following sentence to grow in your self-awareness.
“I expect my friends to…”
“I expect my family to…”
“I expect to have _________________ in my future.”
“I expect to experience ________________________ when I show up on Tuesday nights.”
How do you typically respond to disappointment?
Which of the above Bible passages stood out to you the most and why?
What do you struggle the most to believe is true about God? How can you see this affect your behaviors?