Back in the 1970’s Phil Keaggy had a beautiful song on his Love Broke Through album–”Disappointment– His Appointment”.  The song was actually a poem put to music. The citation was ‘author unknown’.

I loved the words so much that I typed them up and gave them out as I met people who needed encouragement.

I have to admit that poetry is not my favorite subject.  But, you know there is something amazing about a great poem–that your heart sentiments can be expressed so aptly, so artistically–someone has had your experience or feelings!

Thirty years later, and fifteen hundred miles away from where I first heard the song, someone we had recently met was clearing out old religious books.  He offered them to us.  Weeks later, while looking through my new books I saw The Best-Loved Religious Poems by James Gilchrist Lawson.  (It was published in 1933 by Fleming Revell Company.)

Sure enough, there it was on page 97–”Disappointment–His Appointment”.  It evidently was based on the passage from Job 23:14—”He performeth the thing that is appointed for me.”

The author was Edith Lillian Young.

Here are the words:

“Disappointment–His appointment,”
Change one letter, then I see
That the thwarting of my purpose
Is God’s better choice for me.
His appointment must be blessing,
Tho’ it may come in disguise
For the end from the beginning
Open to His wisdom lies.

“Disappointment — His appointment,”
Whose?  The Lord, who loves me best,
Understands and knows me fully,
Who my faith and love would test;

For, like loving earthly parent,
He rejoices when He knows
That  His child accepts, unquestioned,
All that from his wisdom flows.

“Disappointment –His appointment,”
“No good thing will He withhold,”
From denials oft we gather
Treasures of His love untold.
Well He knows each broken purpose
Leads to fuller, deeper trust,
And the end of all His dealings
Proves our God is wise and just.

“Disappointment–His appointment,”
Lord, I take it, then, as such.
Like the clay in hands of potter,
Yielding wholly to Thy touch.
All my life’s plan is Thy moulding,
Not one single choice be mine;
Let me answer, unrepining–
Father, “Not my will, but Thine.”

After finding and reviewing the original poem on which the song, “Disappointment– His Appointment”, was based, I now offer this insight.  Understand, the poem is not Scripture.  It’s not perfect.  I strongly disagree with, “Not one single choice be mine.” That is frankly bad theology.  Why?  Because we were divinely designed to make choices–our Creator gave us free will.  More importantly, we are told in Hebrews chapter 5 verse 14, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”  We practice by making choices.  It takes spiritual, emotional and intellectual exercise to learn how to choose between good and evil.  We are NOT to be passive as believers.

Also Ms. Young puts forth, “He rejoices when He knows that His child accepts, unquestioned, all that from His wisdom flows.”  Are all of our disappointments His appointments?

Were all Job’s appointments, including his grievous loss of children, possessions, wealth and health, God’s appointments?  We know from the text, in Job chapter 2, that after Satan insinuated to the LORD that, if afflicted,  Job would curse the LORD to His face, that “… the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life’ ” (Job 2:6 italics mine).   Thus, it would appear that the afflictions Job subsequently bore were not the LORD’s appointments, but Satan’s.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 18,  Paul said he wanted to go to the Thessalonians, but “Satan hindered us.”

Blind, unthinking acceptance of whatever comes down the pike is dangerous. Sometimes we think the hand dealt to us is from God, when, in reality, it is simply Satan thwarting or harassing us.  In those instances, we cannot be passive.  Passivity, or passive acceptance of situations, is exactly how the enemy is too often allowed to  gain control over our thoughts, lives, bodies, etc.   The believer is told to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12). Why is a list of spiritual armor given in Ephesians chapter 6, if there is no war and we are to simply accept what comes along?

There is a classic text on spiritual warfare called War on the Saints, by Jessie Penn-Lewis (published by Overcomer Literature Trust, 1977  & Christian Literature Crusade, Fort Washington, PA, 1983).  It was originally written in 1912!

She devotes an entire chapter to The Perils of Passivity.  Here are a few excerpts (pgs. 51-68):

“The chief condition for the working of evil spirits in a human being, apart from sin, is passivity, in exact opposition to the condition which God requires for His working.  ...God requires cooperation with His Spirit, and the full use of every faculty of the whole man. In brief, the powers of darkness aim at obtaining a passive slave or captive to their will; whilst God desires a regenerated man, intelligently and actively will–ing and choosing…

The powers of darkness would make a man a machine, a tool, an automaton; the God of holiness and love desires to make him a free, intelligent sovereign in his own sphere–a thinking rational, renewed creation after His own image (Ephesians iv. 24).  Therefore, God never says to any faculty of man, “Be thou idle”.

God does not need, nor demand non-activity in a man, for His working in and through him; but evil spirits demand the utmost non-activity and passivity.

God asks for intelligent action (Rom. xii. 1-2, “Your reasonable service,”) in cooperation with Him.

Passivity must not be confused with quietness, or the “meek and quiet spirit”, which in the sight of God is of great price.  Quietness of spirit, of heart, of mind, of manner, voice and expression, may be co-existent with the most effective activity in the will of God (1 Thess. iv. 11).

There is a PASSIVITY OF THE WILL; …This originates from a wrong conception of what full surrender to God means.  Thinking that a “surrendered will” to God means no use of the will at all, the believer ceases to (1) choose, (2) determine, and (3) act of his own volition. The serious effect of this he is not allowed by the powers of darkness to discover, for at first the consequences are trivial and scarcely noticeable. …

“Suffering directly caused by evil spirits may be discriminated from the true fellowship of Christ’s sufferings, by a complete absence of result, either in fruit, victory, or ripening in spiritual growth.  If carefully observed, it will be seen to be entirely purposeless. On the other hand, God does nothing without a definite object(ive).  He does not delight in causing suffering for the sake of suffering, but the Devil does.”  (Emphasis mine)

It is amazing and comforting to KNOW that, though some of our appointments come from the enemy of our souls, it is TRUE that God is able to make all grace abound to us in those circumstances, since “… we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28 NASB)

The key to take away today is:  Don’t just automatically presume that the trials that come into your day, or life, have come from the Father’s hand.  We all need to grow up and discern from whence come the “realities” with which we deal.  We don’t want to get to the other side of this difficult life and find that we should have been more actively pursuing wholeness, and more persistently using our authority in Messiah to rebuke the forces of darkness, rather than passively accepting their lies and ill intended appointments.

Yes, the LORD understands.

Yes, everything lies open before Him–there are no surprises and He is omniscient.

Yes, yield your every moment and thought and plan to the love and wisdom of the Spirit of God.

But, be sure your disappointments ARE in fact, His appointments.  You see, if you buy the lie that every disappointment comes from God’s hand, then you are sure to develop an anger or bitterness toward Him…and frankly develop a divided mind:  You know theologically the Scripture says over and over the LORD is good and His mercy endures forever…but your experience shouts the opposite.

Fight the good fight of faith, fight the right battles, and thank Yahveh that His love for you endures forever!