WRITTEN BY DR. JIM GRASSI
Imagine feeling trapped in a dead-end, unfulfilling job, trying to raise a rebellious 15-year-old who keeps cutting curfew and coming home smelling of alcohol – even marijuana – or being stuck in traffic, already late for an appointment, and your coffee spills when you’re abruptly cut off. We face big and little frustrations every day, triggered by unmet expectations, relational conflicts, unrealistic demands, today’s cultural and political environment, something not working like it should, or feeling stuck, disrespected, or ignored.
Our fast-paced, demanding culture only adds fuel to the fire. If we yield to annoyance and disappointment, they can lead to outbursts of anger, isolation, lethargy, depression, poor impulsive decisions, self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, and worse. We might feel justified in our frustration, but left unchecked, it is a catalyst for evil. Just look around at a nation where frustrations run wild. We have a choice about how we manage and express our frustrations, however. We can refuse to be enslaved by them by choosing to:
- Trust God (Proverbs 3:5-6). We trusted Him with our life; we can trust Him with this.
- Take action to fix the problem if possible. For example, squeaky wiper blades can be changed. Maybe it’s time to look for a new job, have a difficult conversation, set some new boundaries, or make some hard changes.
- Change our language/thoughts: I’m not going to let this ruin my day. Lord, please show me what I can learn through this. Thank You, Father, that You are with me. Scripture reminds us to be careful because our lives are shaped by our thoughts (Proverbs 4:23).
- Adjust our expectations. Jesus promised that we would face trouble in this world – but He has overcome it! (John 16:33). Plans fail, people hurt us, things break. Be careful not to invest $100.00 of emotion on a 10-cent problem. We can stew and fume or accept that things go wrong and adjust.
- Practice patience and endurance and trust God to grow and mature us through them (James 1:1-4).
- Confess our frustration to a trusted Christian friend or mentor who will listen to our struggles but won’t let us wallow in the muck of frustration (Galatians 6:2).
- Seek hope in God’s Word. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).
- Utilize the resources, contacts, and pastors within a local bible-believing church. Godly counsel helps us refocus, see the truth, and place our trust in God:
“The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15).
If we handle frustrating events like everyone else, we cannot expect the peace and hope that comes from trusting in God and leaning into His promises to see us through the trials of life. We can expect misery, because when frustration gets the best of us everyone around us usually gets the worst of us.
Scripture Reading: Joshua 1:9
Personal Application: How have you handled the frustrations you’ve faced today? How does God want you to respond to frustration? Practice the eight principles outlined above and watch what God does in your life.
- Taken in part from Overcoming Barriers Men Face: Biblical Thoughts on Issues Confronting Men Today by Jim Grassi, D. Min.
Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5