Frustration

Understatement of the year: Life can be frustrating. What makes life frustrating is, unfortunately, my choices. I could spend a long time listing the decisions I've made that were not very bright, thought-out, or, dare I say, even rational. And, of course, there are the decisions I didn't make that were far from wise as well. What's the old saying? If you have to make a choice and don't, you've made a choice.
Too often I even blame my frustrations for my own decisions on others. Passing the blame is such an easy thing to do. Too bad it only adds to the frustration. Owning up to my frustrating choices is difficult to do. It requires humility and confession. Admitting that I've made a mistake, that my reasoning was self-centered, short-sighted, iniquitous, and materialistic does not come easily to my human pride. Sadly, one of those I blame all too often for the consequences of my choices and the frustrations that come with those choices is God. And that does wonders for my walk with Him--and deepens the frustrations.
So what to do when life seems overwhelming--frustrating, beyond our control? Confession is the place to begin. I cannot "walk in the light as He is in the light" without confession--agreeing with Him that my choices were sin, that the reason I find myself where I am is my fault not His--or anyone else's. I also find quiet reflection on His past goodness a remarkable antidote for frustration as well. My choices have never frustrated His will for my life. He has used some of my worst decisions to do the greatest good for me and for others that I love and care for. His love for me is inescapable, actively focused on doing good for me and using even my frustrating choices for His praise and glory. I could spend an even longer time listing His goodness to me than I could listing my wrong choices. Even my most egregious choices He has often used to create innumerable good things in my life as He draws me back into an even closer fellowship with Him.
And, of course, He knows my heart. Sometimes, believe it or not, my choices that have led to my frustrations have come from my heart's desire to please Him. I have a heart for God, but I keep getting in the way. What a release it is to rest in the loving truth that my God and my Savior looks on the heart. Man looks on the outside--including this man--but God knows my heart's desire. And, amazingly--He delights in my heart's desire. He constantly reminds me that He knows that I love Him--faults and all.
Finding life overwhelming, frustrating? Confess. Get out of the shadows and back into the light of His presence. Trust in His goodness. It doesn't say that just all the right things I do will work together for my good and His glory. But all things will. Just focus for a moment on your past, and you will see that that is undeniably so. He may even remind you of some beautiful things He has done for you that you didn't even see before! And rest in the marvelous truth that He knows and delights in your heart's desire to please Him.
He is always eager to forgive and take your hand in His to continue your journey together. He is always working His loving goodness into your life and using you to glorify Him. He is always looking into the depths of your heart and anxious to continue to use you in the furtherance of the kingdom. Let your frustrations be the source of your joy, your praise, and your faith. "And now abides these three faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love." And the greatest Lover is your glorious Savior.