Frustrated

I think we’ve all been there... Frustrated.

Frustrated by the situation we find ourselves in.
Frustrated by the circumstances.
Frustrated by the issues.
Frustrated by what we know.
Frustrated by what we don’t.
Frustrated by the people that surround us.
Frustrated by certain individuals.
Frustrated by the amount of work on our desk - either too much or too little.
Frustrated for our children.
Frustrated by our children.
Frustrated by those nagging aches and pains that seem to get worse as we get older.
Frustrated when sleep fails us.
Frustrated by our choices. Our actions. Our reactions.

Whatever or whenever (and we may be there right now) we can find ourselves frustrated by events, things, people, moments in life.

Yet God’s Word in Philippians says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:4-7

That’s right, God seemingly says, “I understand your situation. I understand your circumstance. I understand those people... Rejoice anyway - Rejoice in the Lord always.”

Then Paul’s letter to the Philippians goes on to remind us to not only rejoice always, but to let our gentleness be evident to all. That is, don’t allow our frustration to get the best of us. Don’t allow it to be seen by the world around us. Stay gentle. Keep smiling. Don’t be anxious about anything. Don’t worry. Don’t be frustrated. In every situation we find ourselves in, present our requests, our concerns, our frustrations to God. And through those prayers and petitions, and with thanksgiving in our heart and prayers, the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

So, no matter the frustration. No matter the junk. No matter what it is that we may be facing. Rejoice always. I’ll say it again, rejoice. And pray. Asking God to be glorified in the situation. Asking God to be known. Asking God to work in and through us as we rejoice in the place that we find ourselves.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” - Philippians 4:8 NIV

And then frustration fades to prayer, peace and rejoicing...

Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem