How should I respond to frustration? - Frustration - TouchPoints

Proverbs 21:2People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart.

Examining the sources of our frustrations can help us figure out how to deal with them. Being frustrated in our quest to do good and being frustrated because we are not getting our way are quite different things. Each frustration must be dealt with based on its source.

Joshua 1:9“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Though we constantly deal with frustrations, we shouldn’t be discouraged. God will give us the strength and courage we need to see us through.

Exodus 17:4Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What should I do with these people? They are ready to stone me!”

John 6:7Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!”

When frustrated, we should take our frustrations to God. Many of our problems are outside our control—but not outside God’s power. Even our more manageable problems should be faced with God’s help and guidance.

Proverbs 13:3Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.

Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

James 3:5-6In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

We must watch what we say when we are frustrated. Once words leave our lips, we can’t take them back.

Psalm 90:14Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Ecclesiastes 1:8Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

Ecclesiastes 2:20So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world.

Isaiah 35:8-9A great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it.

Acts 17:25“Human hands can’t serve his [God’s] needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.”

James 4:13-15Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

We often try to plan and control everything in our lives. We want our time to be well spent, our problems to be understood and solved, and our goals to be met. We are just trying to serve God the best we can, right? But as we try to tighten our control, we inevitably become frustrated. Plans fall apart. Problems spiral out of control. Goals become insurmountable. At that point, we must turn to God, asking him why he let the plan go wrong. Often, the answer is that the plan was ours, not his. While working hard, being prepared, and persevering are good, a key part of the Christian life is flexibility. Releasing control and moving where God directs us can be scary. God doesn’t always show us our destination, but we can trust he is guiding our steps.