Frustration!  As humans we can all recognise this feeling when it occurs and we are prevented from carrying out our plans and agendas in everyday life.  We excuse ourselves with our self righteous justification of our out bursts, or complaining, not recognising our need of inviting the Lord into the situation.  Seeing God in all things dispels the feelings of frustration as we tune in to what God is saying to us through it.  Either Jesus is Lord of ALL, or He is not Lord at all!  Matthew 5: 8 declares “Blessed are the pure in heart,  for they shall see God”, ………in some things?  No!……in ALL things.

We excuse ourselves with our outbursts, “Well, what does it matter?”  It does matter.  God’s word declares that it is the “little foxes” that spoil the vines, (Solomon’s Song 2: 15).

We can sing heartily in our church gatherings “All hail, King Jesus, You reign, You reign…..” and sincerely mean it, but do our lives declare and demonstrate His sovereignty when things do not go our way?  Ineffectiveness has a very loud voice!  My frustration demonstrates that I am not allowing Jesus to reign in my heart.  Jesus is still King, His reign over all things in sovereignty is unshakeable, but if He is to reign in me as King of my heart, then I must abdicate the throne of my heart and choose to allow Him to reign.  It is a learning process that continues throughout our Christian walk, but it is a lifestyle that we can learn to walk in on resurrection ground as we allow the life of Jesus to rule and reign.  It all comes down to choice.  Here is where I bow to the Lord in humility. When frustration arises, choose to tune in to Father’s voice.  As you do, the feelings of frustration will dissipate and you will learn to recognise the Voice.  Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me”, John 10:27.  We know when we are not following because we have forfeited God’s peace by reacting to the adverse situation.

Jesus experienced all the emotions we do but never demonstrated frustration because He was always tuned in to hear His Father’s voice, and will, above His own.  He came to earth to do the Father’s will, to fulfil His love plan for the redemption of mankind, His treasured creation.

The Holy Spirit is our earthly Guide.  He is also a gentleman and will not force Himself upon us, but is always waiting to be invited into our circumstances.

An old chorus is very apt here:

Invite Him in to your weakness, stand back and let Him take control,

He’s the Master of every situation. He makes the storm clouds cease to roll.

You will meet Him at ‘Wit’s End Corner’. In the wilderness He’ll make you to sing:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”,

Invite Him in, invite Him in”.

 He waits.

Isaiah 30:15 “……In returning and rest shall you be saved: in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and you would not”.   People often quote the first part of this scripture embracing the quietness and confidence being our strength in the rest of the Lord, and rightly so for it is our birthright in Christ.  Sadly, it has often been the case that the end of the verse has also, at times, been our choice: “and you would not”.  May we choose the quiet, confident, strength in God’s rest until it becomes a lifestyle stronghold that all life’s storms and troubles cannot penetrate. Christ is our Anchor in life and the Anchor holds, in spite of the storm.

 

Photo by Julien L on Unsplash