Disillusionment Is Not Bad

By: Lauren Thomas 

Disillusionment. It’s the experience of disappointment when someone [or something] turns out to be different from what you thought. This happens in our relationships, in our work, and even in our faith. 

 

Did you catch that? Even in our faith. Yes, from time to time, we can feel disillusioned in our faith. 

 

I want to unpack two parts of that statement.

But first, what is disillusionment and what it is not. Disillusionment is NOT a sign to throw in the towel. It’s not a sign you had it wrong or made a mistake in choosing that thing or relationship. Disillusionment IS an invitation to move into a deeper, more meaningful, and more aligned relationship, where you see the other person for who they are. 

 

1). “…from time to time.” Disillusionment isn’t a one-time experience, especially in long term relationships, like marriage, family, and in our faith. Disillusionment can be cyclical, because relationships are alive and dynamic, ever-shifting, always changing.  

 

2). “…in our faith.” Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God doesn’t change (Malachi 3:6). But we don’t always see him clearly. Sometimes that’s from lack of Bible knowledge. Sometimes that’s because he’s been misrepresented to us. Sometimes that’s because we’ve made an idol of who/what we want God to be, versus who He really is. Or maybe in all of the above, we could replace the word “God” for “faith journey.” We can become disillusioned with what it means to be a Christian, what it means to go through hard things with God, what it means to live for God in a world that is full of pain. 

 

We can experience disillusionment in our relationship with God not because he has let us down, but because of ourselves. He is constant, but we change. In fact, one facet of disillusionment is that it is often brought on by change or by significant events. 

 

I want to encourage you. If you are experiencing disillusionment in your faith, or with the Lord, this is his invitation to you to know Him better, to go deeper with Him, to see Him more clearly. Disillusionment is not bad. It’s an opportunity for more of Him.

 

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

 

Reflection:

Can you think of a time you felt disillusioned with a relationship? What did you feel? What did you do? 

Have you experienced disillusionment in your faith or with the Lord? What did you feel? What did you do? 

If you had read this blog post before experiencing disillusionment, what might have been different for you?