Ever get frustrated? "Duh Jerry!" (I can hear you all saying it as you read). We all get frustrated... sometimes "to no end" as the expression goes. What is it that gets you frustrated? For me it's when something doesn't work like it's supposed to or I don't understand something. I also tend to get very frustrated with cords (the more wireless our society gets, the happier I am)! For many, the greatest frustration comes from lack of control over a situation, whatever that may be.
Being frustrated frequently isn't good for us physically or spiritually. "Frustration always leads to downfall and deviation, because it wastes precious thinking ability and attention, which otherwise would have been used in constructive or creative work" (charminghealth.com). If you're frustrated, you know what that's all about, right? What about spiritually? Well, frequent frustration take us off focus. We get focused on our situations, negative thoughts, and ill-feelings instead of Jesus. That's definitely not good for us! Long term, bitterness and even hatred can set in if we don't get our frustration in check.
So, what's a frustrated person to do? Our theme verse for the year tells it straight up: "Forgetting what is behind and staining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3.13-14). Let me summarize that for you: GET OVER IT and FORGET IT! That's as short as I can get it, but it's the truth. Let the past stay there (in the past) and determine that you are not going to be bound by what took place yesterday or any other day in the past. Your life will be determined by your actions today, not those of yesterday. Sunday, Pastor Paul said that we need to think about whether or not the things we get frustrated about actually matter to Jesus and then decide from there whether it's worth it. If we're honest with ourselves, most of our frustration comes from our own self-centeredness, our own desires to have our way and have the world (and God) revolve around us!
So, what are you frustrated about right now? Where is your frustration getting you? Will your frustration actually change anything or is it just making you miserable and off focus? Is it really worth it? If it is, then do something about it or just drop it! I'm not a doctor (and I don't play one on TV), but I can tell you this with all confidence: get over it and lower your frustration!
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