In a world that regularly disappoints, Rebbeckah Condo – like many of us – developed coping techniques. An unlikely source of resilience tactics came from Zendaya’s character, MJ in Spiderman, until she realised there may be a better way.
The Spiderman franchise is big news and big money for those who made it. It’s continued to age well since the first instalment in 2002. Many of my peers can be heard quoting characters, forwarding memorable memes and GIFs, and coming across fun film edits on their social media ‘For You’ pages.
I count myself as one of the fanbase, diving right into the ‘spider verse’, and recently rewatching some of the films. It was then that I realised some of the lines I loved when I was younger, just didn’t hit the same.
‘If you expect disappointment, then you can never really be disappointed.’
‘If you expect disappointment, then you can never really be disappointed.’ If you are familiar with Tom Holland’s Spiderman, you are likely to be familiar with this quote from his love interest MJ (played by Zendaya) in the third movie, No Way Home.
When I first watched the film, I took this advice to heart. The idea that I could simply expect disappointment, and never be disappointed, appealed to me. But on a second look, the quote stopped feeling like such good advice. I’m now starting to think that from a Christian point of view, we need a nudge in the other direction.
The world brings dissatisfaction, that much is true. But, as Christians, it is super important to remember what we’re here for, or rather who!
Let’s be honest, this world can be a big downer from time to time: You don’t get that job, that person never calls you back and you haven’t got the faintest idea why. The world brings dissatisfaction, that much is true. However, as Christians, it is super important to remember what we’re here for, or rather who! When the world lets us down, we know that – as God’s children – there’s a friendly neighbourhood saviour who never will.
We are all called to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, using him as an example to faith, and becoming that example ourselves. Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen to him, and you never saw him getting all monotone with it, instead he used the time he had to serve his Father fully and fulfil the purpose he came to Earth with. So, we should make it a goal to rejoice in each day, not expecting the worse all the time just so it doesn’t hit you as hard, no matter how much disappointment is on the way.
Read more on disappointment
I felt so let down by unanswered prayer for my husband and son that I nearly gave up on God
And you’re going to get upset, and let down, and broken – I’m not saying otherwise. God never said you were going to be able to swing through life with no cares in the world (Superman pun intended). But all those things are the events that shape us and provide us with stronger testimonies to share to encourage others. Jesus was fully human and fully God, yet when the time for his death was approaching, he wept and became depressed (Matthew 26:37), so you are completely entitled to the messy emotions that build you up stronger the next time round.
However, in seeing this, we also know that Jesus was risen from the dead after three days, bringing salvation and freedom to all of us if we choose it. After the storm sunshine always follows, so don’t let yourself fall into the group of those who have no hopes or dreams for fear of them being crushed. God knows what he’s doing, and he can pick up your pieces and craft them into something beautiful.
I know I for one don’t have any ‘tingly’ sensations to let me know when disaster is about to strike, and that uncertainty can be discomforting, but if we remember that our creator has a plan and a reason and can lift us out from whatever difficult season we’re in, we can find peace in the chaos.
Expect great things from our great maker – he will never disappoint.
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