How to Deal With The Frustrations in Life

By Greg Sanders

I took a not-so-scientific poll yesterday in our service to discover how many people dealt with frustrations. I simply asked people to identify themselves by raising their hand. Maybe it was just peer pressure, but many people in our congregation dealt with frustration. Maybe it’s because they share the same pastor…who knows? But one thing is for sure; everyone deals with seasons of frustration.

Frustration comes to our lives when we feel inadequate, overwhelmed, helpless, and alone. It is a direct result of realizing that your efforts are insufficient to change the situation. Frustration occurs because you realize that in yourself there is no help and no one who can fully understand the depth of your plight.

God has an answer for your frustration. In Isaiah 41:10 God says “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” While this scripture does not immediately make your frustration disappear, it does provide you a roadmap so that you can walk through frustrating times without spending the rest of your life there. Here is how it teaches us to move through frustrating times:

1. Remember that God is with you. Someone going through something with us makes us feel better. Knowing that someone has the power to change what we are going through is even better. Remember when your circumstance makes you feel isolated, God has not abandoned you but is there to guide you through this season of life. Spend some time in prayer and praise today and remember that He is with you.
2. Remember that God is greater than what you are facing. Someone once said that God’s power is limited by our current need. In other words, it’s easy to believe God for something He has done in the past or what He has done for someone else. The challenge comes when we have to believe Him to work in our current situation. Let me just remind you: Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. God is greater. Confess that God is greater than what you are facing.
3. Remember that God can grow you through the struggle of frustration. God said in Isaiah 41:10 that “I will strengthen you.” Most of God’s strengthening comes to us in difficult times. You must not bail out or quit every time life gets frustrating. I know that is the natural inclination and even seems like the obvious course of action at times. You need to realize that what the enemy means to destroy you, God can use to strengthen you. Ask the Lord if there is something you need to learn during this time of frustration.
4. Remember that God can sustain you through times of frustration. I know that personally I just want out of frustrating times. However, we discovering God’s providing nature best in times of our lack. God can sustain you while you move through this season of frustration. Don’t feel like you have to take matters into your own hands. Look to the resources that He has in His hands.

Today’s Challenge: Don’t let the frustrations of life cause you to quit, settle, or go backwards in your faith and in what you are believing God to do in your life. Remember that God is with you, working for you, and has the resources to sustain you and even do the impossible if necessary.

Blessings,

Greg