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If there is anyone who understands disappointment it's me!  I spent the greatest portion of my life disappointing and the subsequent part of my life being often disappointed.  Though I am sure I remain quite a disappointment to many, I am learning that it is a waste of time to be disappointed with myself. 
 
You see, I am learning that if I am disappointed in myself, I have believed in myself.  When I "think" or "feel", I should have done better, it is I who failed.  What makes me think I can do anything but fail?  It is Christ IN me that can do anything BUT fail! 
 
When we depend on self to do the work of the Lord, then disappointment is the eventual, not probable, but eventual result.  We are all together unprofitable.  Do you believe the Bible when He (not it, the Bible is a He not an it for "the Word was God". If it's quick, that means it's, woops, He's alive!) says "there is none that doeth good" and follows that up with a double declaration-NO NOT ONE!"
 
If we believe we cannot do good, then why do we get disappointed in ourselves?  It is because we are trusting in self.  We MUST stop this nonsense!  It's a revolving door that leads us to think that the flesh can be trained to be pleasing in His sight.  God is not looking for a better Steve.  He is looking for a deader Steve!
 
Now, please understand that I can and should be disappointed when I trust in self.  But I should not be disappointed in my inability to do what self attempted.  For self can do nothing to please God.  Self is absent of faith, or else my dependence would be found IN Him.  Rather than being disappointed in my inability to do what self attempted, I should be disappointed in my selfish effort.  Why did I make effort in mine own power?  I was trusting that I could "getter' done!  That's why."  But I can't, at least not long term.
 
Paul taught me this truth and I am finally learning it.  He explains it best in Romans 7:18-20.  Reread these verses again slowly.  "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing."  Do you know what that means? My flesh is of no value to me or to He!"  But he follows the phrase "dwelleth no good thing" with a colon (:).  That is a punctuation that precedes an explanation.  Here is WHY the great Apostle Paul felt His own efforts were useless "for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."
 
Paul is saying he couldn't find the intestinal fortitude to remain victorious through the development of self.  How could he conclude such a thing when most everyone thinks it's best to improve self?  Because the best naturally birthed Christian in the world realized "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."
 
So, I conclude with this thought.  If Paul was such a miserable failure at everything he tried to do, then how did he keep from being so disappointed in himself?  Our final verse for the morning explains it.  He concluded in verse twenty:  "Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
 
He learned to trust in the Lord and have no confidence in the flesh.  If we trust in the Lord, we will never be disappointed.  But if we trust in ourselves, we shall always be disappointed.  At least eventually, it is guaranteed! 
 
Do you believe?  If so, then I guess you are seldom disappointed, huh!  If you are oft or even sometimes disappointed, then now we understand why.  It's not because of trust in self.  It's because we just don't believe. 
 
Lord, help our unbelief.   

 Have a wonderful day IN the Lord!