“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

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Most of what I have read on the topic of God being Disappointed written by Christian authors relies on the notion that God could not possibly be disappointed. How can an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God, who is all-powerful, always present, and knows everything be surprised or disappointed?

I have comforted myself and others with the idea that God could not possibly be disappointed with us because of who He is.

God Ashamed and Deeply Troubled?

However, after digging into the topic for myself, the scriptures I looked at seem to indicate God experiencing some form of disappointment. However, any form of the word itself, “Disappoint” rarely shows up in any of the major translations.

But, Genesis 6:6 is translated in the NKJ – “And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” In the NIV – “The Lord regretted (sorry, ashamed) that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.” Sounds like He was pretty disappointed.

In Exodus after engaging with Moses God decided not to destroy the grumbling Israelites saying in Exodus 32:14 – “And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.”

The Hebrew word used here for repented is Chapher, meaning to be ashamed, be confounded, be abashed or embarrassed, repentant.

In the New Testament we find the Greek word Kataischuno, meaning to dishonor, disgrace, to put to shame, make ashamed, to be ashamed, blush with shame, hope deceived. Romans 10:11 says “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

God’s not ashamed of us but is Jesus?

Nowhere in the New Testament could I find indications that God is ashamed or disappointed with us. Yet, on a number of occasions we do find that Jesus seems taken by surprise and disappointed with his disciples.

In Matthew 17 there is the epileptic boy that the Disciples could not heal. “Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?” Sounds like a disappointment to me. (Though it may not be)

Later in Revelation chapter 2-3 Jesus repeats with each church that he has something “against them” indicating disappointment as in Revelation 2:4, “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write – Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” The Greek word for Against is Kata. It gives the notion of “down from” or in this case “my thinking of you has been lowered” or being disappointed.

So, how does that work? How can an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Son of God, restored to Heaven who knows everything, be surprised or disappointed?

God Rooting for Us?

The Flip side of God being Disappointed is the idea that God is Rooting for us as we pass through this life. Once again, how is that possible for a God who knows the outcome before it even happens? If God knows everything about what will ever happen at any point in time I ask, “How does that work?” Or perhaps more importantly, “How boring is that?” Imagine knowing every play and the final outcome of every game before it is played? Why would I care to watch and root for any team?

My Theory of Omni Suppression

Now, I’m going to ask you to extend to me a little grace – a little latitude as I share my “theory” on this. Like Darwin’s “Theory of Evolution,” it is only my opinion based on evidence I have looked at.

So, how could an all-powerful God have the experiences that are ascribed to him in the Bible? Some of the words I found in the Bible that seem to indicate a lack of foreknowledge (omniscience) are God being: Disappointed, Desiring of, Hopeful for, Patient, Waiting and Faithful. How does that work?

I’ll use a sports fan analogy to explain my theory: There have been occasions when a major sporting event was occurring at a time when I could not watch it live. Beforehand I would set my VCR/DVR to record the event and then do everything in my power not to learn the result in order that I could later watch the game as though it were live – turning on the recorder and hitting play I could watch the game and even though the action was already played and the result concluded, I could sit and cheer for an outcome that had already been decided.

Okay, so I ask, Is it possible that our God could do something the same with His experience in relationship with us? Could God actually hit a pause button on his Omniscience Attribute – to enjoy the thrill of rooting for His creation and experience the Joy of our victories and have the compassion to share in the pain of our defeats?

The Omnipotence Paradox

I know that it is a bit crazy and may even be heretical to some Christians. When I have brought this up with some brethren, invariably they will invoke what is known as The Omnipotence Paradox. The most well-known version of this is the paradox of the stone: “Could God create a stone so heavy that even He could not lift it?” The conundrum is that either way, if He can or He can’t, He is not all powerful. But, my simple-minded answer to the question is – “Of course He could!” God can do anything by His choice. If He chooses to create something that even He then won’t be able to lift, He can do it because it is under His power and authority and it fits with His Goodness, Righteousness and Truth.

So, Prove It

If you have a Theory, you must have some proof. What is my proof? My proof is that God – who He is – His Character – the very essence of God cannot be changed and the promises He makes cannot be changed. Therefore, God certainly can create something that will not be moved even by himself. But, it is His choice. Much like His unchanging character, He could choose to operate outside of His perfectly righteous character but He does not. He, like the great stone will not be moved:

James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” He is always consistent and unchanging in His character.

Numbers 23:19 – “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

But what I am suggesting here is not really the same thing: Can God turn off/lay aside/pause, not His character, but His power or attributes for His own pleasure and for the benefit of His creation? Then what is my proof?

In my book, Emptied I make the case that God already did this. When? We find it in Philippians 2:5 Christ Jesus: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” God the Son literally laid aside the powers of His deity for a tiny slice of eternity for God’s Joy and for that of all creation.

Jesus, the Son of God, equal part of the triune God willingly gave up his glorious Omni attributes when he came down to walk the earth as a man. He, for the time, could only be in one place at one time. He did not know all things and did not act with all power. So, I believe that God could do this.

You might not believe that Jesus fully gave up all His power and glory when He became a man but anyone who agrees with the statement that “Jesus is fully God and fully man” must acknowledge that He set aside or restrained His deity as a man at least to some extent while walking the earth.

Another proof is that there is clear evidence of His perfect patience as He restrains His awesome Omnipotence when we are guilty and deserve punishment for our crimes. 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

So, is it possible that God could choose not to know every outcome, to enjoy being surprised, to enjoy the anticipation and sensation of victory and to compassionately share in our failures?

We know the definition of disappointment. Yet, I believe that there is a spectrum of disappointment at one end being upset to the point of anger and seeking revenge and retribution for the failure and shame – to the other end of the spectrum where there is shared sorrow and regret bringing understanding, compassion and comfort.

As a little leaguer I can certainly remember teammates who failed badly only to be met by parents who were angered by the shame and embarrassment over their child’s disappointing performance. I recall, on one occasion where I struck out on the final at bat with the tying and winning runs on base, my father did not hide his disappointment. However, my father’s look of disappointment was truly for the pain he felt for me and for my own disappointment. My father expressed the loving compassion to throw his arms around me and to encourage me that “I’d get ’em next time.” He shared in my disappointment but chose to love and console me.

On the flip side, I have always felt as though God is rooting for me/us to succeed – “Come on Dave, I have given you instruction and guidance and access to my power. Now there is this test in front of you – two paths to take. The answer is clearer than you think. I know your heart. You can do this!”

I’d make the case that on several occasions this is what Jesus did with His disciples. An example is with the episode where Jesus calms the storm. In Luke 8 Jesus asks the Disciples, “Where is your faith?” In the account in Matthew 8 Jesus says, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” In other words, I’ve modeled this for you. Where is your faith to call out to God the Father to calm the storm?

I believe that God delights in following our progress and providing guidance and direction – enjoying our victories and feeling our pain in defeat – knowing full well that ultimately, He, God is victorious.

Now, whether you believe in my theory or not, I believe that in whatever way that may be beyond our understanding, our God is able to delight in our victories and feel for us through our failures. He is the God of Hope and Joy and our great Comforter.

What does God promise – The best? No, He desires for us an abundant life. He plans for us a good and peaceful life with a future that offers great hope and joy. Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.” John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

As God cheers us on He is always encouraging us to put our Faith, Hope and Trust in Him and the goodness, righteousness and truth only He can offer.

So, to answer the question, “Does God Get Disappointed With Us?” the answer is YES but it is all in the inflection of the word “WITH“. He is not disappointed in us but is disappointed along with us. Our God is a God who experiences life and relationship with us – He is the only God who can be called by the very name – Immanuel – “God With Us!” (Matthew 1:23)

If you think, “Nobody knows what I’m going through, nobody feels the pain I’m experiencing.” Or “Who cares? Is there anyone rooting for me?” God knows, and “The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” (Psalms 103:13, NLT)

Our God knows in a very personal way! He cares and is rooting for us to be victorious with His power. Colossians 1:11 – We are “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”

He knows your feelings and frustrations.  He sees the crisis in your soul. There’s no hurt that goes unfelt by God. Psalm 56:6 says, “You know how troubled I am; you have kept a record of my tears.”

God not only sees and feels, He Cares!

God knows the causes, the reasons, the things that brought you to this point. He understands because he made you, and he shares in the hurt of your heart like nobody else can.

Because God knows and feels our frustrations and despair, we can give those feelings to God: “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.” (1 Peter 5:7, NLT) Cast them all permanently on God, once and for all, and then, don’t take them back.

My “Theory” of how this all works is only a guess as I try to comprehend what is likely incomprehensible. Knowing that what seems impossible is possible for an all-powerful Being that lives in a realm beyond the confines of our time and space.

To all, have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Giving thanks to our Immanuel God for being our Comforter who roots for us, who celebrates in our victories, and who compassionately shares in our disappointments – God WITH us!

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Romans 8:28-31