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In the body of Christ there are many members, but we are one body. If one segment of the body is struggling, the whole body struggles and the Lord has revealed to me that many ministers are struggling with disappointment fatigue. One of the things God is concerned with is the whole body, not just certain groups or ministries. He is God of the whole body, not just one part of it. So, He is looking at us as a whole and wanting us to advance together. The prayer of Jesus is that we would be one as He and His Father are one (John 14). So, even though I have worked through this issue in my own life, I am now seeing it in the lives of ministers all around the church. I am finding that those who have been in the ministry for some time struggle with this the most.

Disappointment is defined as the feeling of sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one’s hopes or expectations; Fatigue is defined as extreme tiredness, typically resulting from mental or physical exertion or illness. When I say disappointment fatigue I am saying, members of the body of Christ who are tired of not having their hopes or expectations fulfilled. People that choose to become members of the body of Christ do so with the hope of life getting better, dreams coming true, and obtaining a sense of fulfillment. Pastors feel the pressure of the people to create this type of environment or preach a sermon that helps with this, but many of them are struggling with more disappointment fatigue than the members are. So, we have leaders and members struggling with the same problem.

But Jesus, who forever lives to make intercession for us, has a solution to this problem. His word is riddled with ways to alleviate disappointment fatigue and just like dieting if you stick to the program it will yield results, but if you want a quick fix with not change on your part, you will not see any change. The first prescription Jehovah Rapha would give for disappointment fatigue is remember the Sabbath and keep it holy (Exodus 20:8). Rest is a spiritual discipline that very few people do, because they have not seen the fruit of this labor. But the reason Israel went into Babylonian captivity for 70 years was for not keeping the Sabbath, so rest is a really big deal to God. One day a week, you are to do no work, but are to rest.

The second prescription Jesus would give to those struggling with disappointment fatigue is to praise. Isaiah 61:3 says, “To console those who mourn in Zion, give them the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Praise is a choice, when we chose to praise the Lord, we open our mouth and speak the truth of who He is. Praise alters emotions, for emotions are just energy in motion. Praise changes our attitude; opens up the heavens so we can ascend the hill of the Lord; it parts the Red Sea; it breaks the yoke of disappointment fatigue. Many ministers don’t praise, but rather they are preparing to speak while in worship. Preparation is to be done prior to worship not in it. Come to worship to praise, lift your voice to say nice things about someone else and watch your life change for the better.

Finally, Jesus would invite us to move from disappointment fatigue to decree. Many believers and ministers alike do not exercise their authority in the spirit. Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them.” Our words are more powerful than we realize. We actually create our world with our words, whatever we speak, that is what we have. It is time for the CHURCH to begin to decree the truth of the word of God, not just as a principle, but as a promise. The word of faith movement with Kenneth Copeland taught us to speak words of faith in order to receive what we ask for. It’s time to reopen this well of truth. Psalm 81:10 says, “Open your mouth with a mighty decree, I will fulfill it now, you will see! The words that you speak, so shall it be!”

We must move from disappointment fatigue to decree, if we want to see the glory of the Lord in the land of the living. Make the shift and you will see, the One who has set you free