Frustrations

In my almost 50 years, life has dealt me myriad circumstances that have at times, tested my sanity, my character, and my love for God. Frustrations at work, church, or home threaten to overwhelm me. I find myself wading through a cacophony of emotions that so rattle my perceptions that I feel like I am peering into my day-to-day life like a hunched-up driver at the wheel of a car in an intense rainstorm.

I can see the road, and I know the way; but my visibility is limited. The beating of the wipers annoys me even though I know that without them I couldn’t navigate at all. The pounding rain agitates every last nerve.

I have enough sense to know that the rain won’t last forever, and that eventually clarity and sunshine will return. But when I am in the midst of the downpour, all too often I whine and complain or get angry and cry.

Why do they keep changing my work schedule? I have a life outside of my job.

Don’t they know that I should be the one to run the sound, head up the nursery, or sing the special?

I know Susie is family, but why does she always have to make things so difficult?

And so, it is with many of us when our less-than-perfect world threatens our sense of well-being.

All too often, we react with intensity and angst when pressures or unfairness invade our lives. We become indignant, self-righteous, ignoble. Our base carnality rises up, and we want to right the wrong. Fix the injustice. Throw the first punch.

After all we have a right…

Or do we?

• Joseph had a right to withhold food from his brothers who had left him a pit to die. (Genesis 37:29)

• David had a right to kill Saul in the cave. (1 Samuel 24)

• Abraham had a right not to murder his son. (Genesis 22)

What we fail to realize is, that just like in Biblical times, the things that most upset us are often allowed by God to test our heart to show God and ourselves what is really inside of our desperately wicked being.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”-Jeremiah 17:9

After God provided the ram in the bushes for Abraham so that he didn’t have to sacrifice his son Isaac, he said to him “Now I know that you fearlessly fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.” (Genesis 22:12)

Now I know…

I wonder what God knows about our hearts when we are in our seasons of frustrations and trials?

Now I know that you are jealous of your coworker’s success…

Now I know that you are resentful that your mother had a better relationship with your brother than you…

Now I know that… (you fill in the blank)

Let’s Pray

Lord Jesus, please forgive us for what is in our heart that we do not know. Help us to see life’s trials and adversity as allowed by you to prove and purify our hearts. You are amazing and mighty and fully dedicated to helping us become like You. Make us willing Lord to submit to your process of growth. And help us to remember that our life’s challenges are always about having the right heart response. In your name. Amen.