The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Frustrations: Don't Let Them Keep You Down

by Dessa Rodeffer, Publisher

20 February 2002

Working hard:tiring, resting:back to work: :tiring:some more rest: interruptions:more work:phone calls:change ....in plans:working late :mistakes:running later:breakdowns:fix problem:job canceled:big frustration :I want to quit!

We all have frustrations. We find them:

• whether we're at play -such as trying to put a 5,000 piece puzzle together and after one whole evening, only finding one or two pieces;
• whether we're at work -trying to make ends meet in the slower months with higher heating bills and lower income; or
• whether we're at home -with illness, breakdowns, repairs, upkeep, or that shut-in feeling from just too many people underfoot, or perhaps it is caused from the feeling of lonelinessÐjust missing our family and friends, or those lost loved ones, or the way things use to be.

According to thoughts on this matter from Pastor Bruce Goettsche's first bookÐ

"Faith Lessons:" "The problem of disharmony is a spiritual problem. We will not be right with each other until we first are right with God."

Since "sin" was introduced to Adam and Eve in the beginning, paradise on earth has been chaos.

Goettsche says, "Sin wants to take over everything," and he compares it to a cancer.

If you think you have frustrations, can you imagine how God felt after creating such a beautiful world, putting everything imaginable in it, giving it to two people with only one restriction, and then finding they had ignored your request and took the advice of a lowly tempter who had given them nothing but false advice?

We have been hurt, but our hurts are small matters compared to this. We are continually deceived by life as this same tempter tells you at work you deserve more, tells you in your competitive sports - you deserve to win, it was the coaches fault, the ump's bad call, or your teammate's lack of talent.

We say we are hurt by a selfish spouse, neglectful children, a co-worker's harsh words, or another who we feel purposely tried to hurt us, so we have the right to be frustrated and bitter. So, we refuse to forgive.

We reject family, and we refuse to do business with those who have hurt us. We ex-communicate those who have hurt us from being in our circle of friends and at our family get-togethers.

And while we are doing all of this, we make "the tempter" extremely happy. For this sin of unforgiveness, this cancer will destroy us and more importantly, our good relationship with God.

God knows frustration and hurt. He knows what it is like to give everything, yet his children refuse to keep their eyes on Him and be thankful. He knows what it is like to see them neglect him and turn to follow another.

In Genesis 6:6 ( New King James Version) the Bible says: "And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart."

Yet, we know this God, who gives us everything, has a love beyond our understanding. For in John 3:16-17 the Bible explains:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

This great country we live in, "AmericaÐLand of the Free," follows in the footsteps of what God always has wanted for us, and that is the freedom to choose.

Rev. Larry Dyson, Pastor of the Rozetta Baptist Church said, God gave us freedom in hopes that we will choose Him."

God's hope is that we will lay our frustrations at His feet, and listen to His instruction of forgiveness, love, and service to others.

How will we gain happiness? My favorite choral anthem which I first heard a children's choir present at a Bel Canto Choral Concert in Burlington, Iowa, says it best:"It's in the Giving, We Receive."

Don't let the frustrations keep you down. Last Wednesday began the season of Lent for Christians. Find and attend the weekly Lenten services in your community. See how focusing on God's plan will brighten your days. Only the devil (the tempter) will be frustrated then.

At our Presbyterian Service on Sunday, Pastor Dr. John Deal said in his sermon of Jesus tempted in the wilderness: "Do you think the devil is going to waste his time tempting some smuck?"

Rev. Deal said, the devil knew exactly who Jesus was and He delights in nothing better than bringing good people down.

Remember how he fooled Adam and Eve. The tempter will be busy trying to frustrate you until the very end. Don't you let him.