Frustrated
We are all guilty of letting frustration build up. Some of us let them grow until we blow up others just turn and walk away. Most of us do not like confrontation on the things in life that are important. I can argue the paint off the wall on some subjects, but when you have to address things with people you love sometimes we feel it is easier to ignore it and hope it goes away.
It rarely goes away. I am beginning to see how well the enemy uses frustration to cause division. If my husband and I are frustrated about things, we are not as engaged with one another. What happens when we get frustrated at church? When I am frustrated with one of my son's...it can look a bit like a tantrum. No matter the venue, frustration generally results in communication breakdowns.
I have seen it happen more times than I care to recall in the Body of Christ. People let things build up and begin taking offense to the tiniest things and then next thing you now people start to abandon ship. Many times this happens just as the church was about to see phenomenal growth or revival...or both.
So what do we do? The answer is literally in your hands. Read your Bible and pray about it. A house divided cannot stand. Ask God to help you be part of the solution and to give you grace as you address the frustrations. The frustrations we encounter are opportunities for our faith to grow and for us to stretch a little more toward God. We are more than conquerors so stop tripping of the devil's stupid tricks. He is a worm and he has no power over God's children. Rebuke him and thank God for forgiveness. Now extend grace and forgiveness to whomever is frustrating you.
Regardless of your age, education, experience, social standing, job title and so on - we all have room to mature, grow, and improve. Sometimes that requires someone telling us where we dropped the ball and helping us pick the ball up and get back in the game. Sometimes we are the coach, other times the player. Give criticism with mercy and love; receive it with grace and humility.
It rarely goes away. I am beginning to see how well the enemy uses frustration to cause division. If my husband and I are frustrated about things, we are not as engaged with one another. What happens when we get frustrated at church? When I am frustrated with one of my son's...it can look a bit like a tantrum. No matter the venue, frustration generally results in communication breakdowns.
I have seen it happen more times than I care to recall in the Body of Christ. People let things build up and begin taking offense to the tiniest things and then next thing you now people start to abandon ship. Many times this happens just as the church was about to see phenomenal growth or revival...or both.
So what do we do? The answer is literally in your hands. Read your Bible and pray about it. A house divided cannot stand. Ask God to help you be part of the solution and to give you grace as you address the frustrations. The frustrations we encounter are opportunities for our faith to grow and for us to stretch a little more toward God. We are more than conquerors so stop tripping of the devil's stupid tricks. He is a worm and he has no power over God's children. Rebuke him and thank God for forgiveness. Now extend grace and forgiveness to whomever is frustrating you.
Regardless of your age, education, experience, social standing, job title and so on - we all have room to mature, grow, and improve. Sometimes that requires someone telling us where we dropped the ball and helping us pick the ball up and get back in the game. Sometimes we are the coach, other times the player. Give criticism with mercy and love; receive it with grace and humility.
"To conquer frustration one must remain intensely focused on the outcome not the obstacles." T.F. Hodge
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