Disappointment seems to be an inevitable part of relationships. Sometimes the disappointment comes not from strangers, but from those who are very close and we trust, such as close friends, best friends, and even relatives. If this is the case, this sense of disappointment is much more painful than attacks from outside, because the wounds that come from the closest people touch the deepest space of our hearts. In the age of social media, we also often encounter betrayal that comes in other forms: promises broken, gossip spread, or secrets divulged. It is no wonder that many people end up living with wary, even closed hearts. Psalm 55 gives voice to this inner experience.

The psalmist expresses his disappointment with a very close friend. The word used in verse 13 comes from the root ידע (yudda: to know, to know), signifying an intimate relationship. They not only walked together, but also worshipped together in the house of God (verse 15). That is why this betrayal felt so piercing. However, the psalmist did not stop at personal wounds, he also had a longing for justice. Interestingly, amidst the emotional turmoil, the psalmist found confidence that God hears and saves. This prayer became an oasis for the shaken soul. But after this confession of faith, the psalmist again alludes to the friend who stabbed him in the back (verses 21-22). This shows how inner wounds cannot be healed instantly. In the end, the psalmist surrenders, "Cast your cares on the LORD, and he will take care of you" (verse 23).

Deep disappointment, especially from betrayal, can hurt confidence and trigger anxiety. According to attachment theory, wounds inflicted by a trusted party have direct implications on the stability of security, as the attachment that was the basis of trust turns into a source of threat. However, the healing process can begin by opening up "emotional vents" or confiding, as the psalmist did in prayer. Kierkegaard, the existentialist philosopher, called prayer "man's deepest communication with God," a safe space when the world around us fails to understand.

Friends of the Bible, the way to deal with disappointment does not mean shutting ourselves off from the world, but rather learning to put our hurts in the right place, namely before God. We can be angry, cry, and even pray for justice, because God is not allergic to the honesty of our hearts. However, we are also invited to realize that disappointment is not the end, but the path to purifying faith, because God sustains the righteous and gives peace in the midst of wounds. So, when we are disappointed, don't let our hearts close. Learn to surrender the burden to God, while still making room for others who may be used by Him as an extension of love. In this way, disappointment is no longer a shackle, but an opportunity to rediscover direction, strength, and hope.