August 26, 2008
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antidote to frustration::
on peaceful days i feel in absolute accord with the will of God. but i must admit on not so peaceful days – when the dryer breaks, the car has a flat, a friend has cancer, and bills fill the mailbox – i find myself anxious about where Christ is taking me… if He is taking me at all.at times He can seem a million miles away – and i wonder, “does He know what’s happening…”
i smile because i know the answer… yet, knowing the answer doesn’t always remove the questions of my heart.
there are times in life where i feel perhaps someone has come by and pushed my sled over the hill before i was ready – i have my eyes shut tight, holding on for dear life, just hoping it will stop before i wipe out at the bottom ! is God there? is He just standing by watching? couldn’t He stop this if He wanted? couldn’t He wait until i’m more ready to take these unexpected, plummeting rides …. ?
but will i ever be ready?
will i ever have everything just so.. feet planted firmly… hands tightly holding on… secure… confident… prepared for the PUSH down the hillside?
somehow i think the answer is no ~ no matter how many times we ride the hill of the unexpected. the unknown. the unexplainable. are we ever really prepared? do we ever find ourselves savoring these times? looking forward to when the next push will come!
while talking about some of these things with shayne the other night i said, “bottom line we want what WE want!” somehow we think we can have God’s will AND our own!! to surrender part without surrendering ALL~
to talk of surrender… is much easier to say than do. sometimes i think by talking about it – saying it’s what i desire, that somehow i’ll fool God into believing me ~
that He’ll just take my word for it and not check out my heart!yet, the way God works is so…. so God-like! He doesn’t have to pry the truth from us – He allows things to come into our lives that cause the truth of our hearts to surface. how we respond is His heart tester…
i’ve had my heart tested lately ~ what i see surfacing isn’t the great heart of surrender – it’s the pale heart of doubt! even dread over what the future might hold. how i wish i could rise up in song and say, “i’ll praise you in the storm…” fact is right now – i’m tired of being wet all the time!
( yes, there is frustration in my tone – i feel it sweep over me like a cold, dank fog rolling in from the sea~
yesterday i read – “frustration can be defined as ‘the extent to which my will does not equal God’s will.’ ” hadn’t really thought of it in that context before.. NOT wanting the will of God. of course i would say i want His will, but – pause – do i ?
judging by some of my recent responses to His working in me i’m sure it would seem contrary – again, somehow thinking God’s will can sorta just mesh in with my own ~ i find myself wanting to suggest to God. advise God. draw diagrams for God ~ instead of simply being STILL and KNOWING He is God!!
“whenever we are not completely satisfied that the will of God is a sufficient plan for our lives a sense of panic about the future (and present – added by me) lunges into our conscious thoughts….”
frustration over the plans God has set before me – the circumstances He has me in – is a signal of an life not surrendered !
Corrie Ten Boom said, “worry does not empty tomorrow of it’s sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” !!
only Christ can resolve the issues of our lives : Do you know where the customers are going to come from to meet next months quotas? Do you know how to solve your husband/ wife conflicts in marriage? Do you know how to satisfy your cravings to lead a meaningful life?
the antidote for frustration is surrender.
though at times it can be scary – being in the center of God’s will is the safest place for us to be!
does being in His will mean we won’t ever have any more problems – ? does it mean we jump up and down at where God has us – ? if so, there must be alot of christians out of His will!
of course not… Jesus who couldn’t have been more in the center of God’s will still prayed for His circumstances to be changed…life will be hard. the Bible says so, “in this world you will have trouble…” but i love this next part – “be comforted! (be encouraged! be happy!) because I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD!!!”
isn’t that beautiful?
we don’t have to love the circumstances we find ourselves in
~ but we can love and cling to the One who has OVERCOME whatever it is we’re facing….!!
THAT is our hope –not that our plans will somehow work out like we want –
our hope is in the tender mercy and grace of Jesus!
with Him we can face today with peace~
amber.
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Comments (26)
Oh Amber, I so remember a period of my life when everything seemed upside down. I could not fathom what God was doing. Why was He allowing such things? I so wanted God to “fix” everything and felt I was throwing myself at His Mercy. I could not see any earthly way out of the problems. I knew I needed a supernatural intervention. I prayed long and hard and I worried almost every second of every day. The fist in my stomach just wouldn’t go away. This little pip-squeak voice coming out of me “I trust You God, I surrender.” I hardly beleived myself. But God honored that little pip-squeak, He knew the troubles were big not small, I surrendered the best I could, in a very scary place. When I look back on those times I concur with Mother Theresa’s quote. It sapped me, robbed the day(s). My body was in the present but my mind was in the future. God carried me through those times–it seemed at times kicking and screaming. I wanted things done my way–it seemed quicker–easier. He didn’t take all the troubles away but He revealed Himself time and time and time again. I learned slowly to trust Him. He spoke to me through those things, He grew my faith, is still growing my faith, He was faithful–even when I was not.
I look back now and as hard as it was (and it was hard) I know my faith has deepend. It was through the deep waters that I learned to surrender. There are regrets–mostly about my own behaviour and how that affected my children but I do beleive God will keep working in this family until all is restored. I’ve learned and continue to learn that I can trust Him. It’s becoming a part of me now and the fist is gone. When that fear starts to brew I can point to those times and am convinced that He able to do more than we can ask or imagine. Now I know “with Him we can face today with peace” no matter what the circumstances!
Thank-you for this beautiful post that points to Him. ~Dawne
Like that definition of frustration… I need to remember that one.
oh how i love that verse: “in this world you WILL have trouble. but be comforted. for i have overcome the world.”
i think we “all are like little children. wanting our own way.” my favorite quote by jamie buckingham goes like this: “only thru pain and suffering do we realize we cannot control God. we can only submit to Him.”
i can relate!
“Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, how I’ve proved Him o’r and o’r” Is what ran through my head as I read this.
I’ve had to learn so many times, to open up my hand and let go of whatever it is that I’m grabbing for. . .and LET GOD have His own way with me.
Love ya!
wow I never thought about how the opposite to frustration is surrender…so true though. Definitely know where your coming from. It seems like we pray and pray about our problems and yet He doesn’t answer at all or doesn’t answer like we thought He should. So frustrating if you’re not surrendered to Him and his answer/will. Something I definite need to learn better.
i know u don’t know me..but i had 2 let u know that the the things u wrote were a God send 2nite…after getting out of bed because odf sleeplessness and heaviness in my spirit i came here and it was EXACTLY what the Lord wanted me to read and think upon..God bless youe life!!!
Oh Amber, this is exactly what my past 24 (48, by now) hours were like. I finally surrendered and that’s when the peace came. I still don’t know all the details about HOW our problem will be resolved, but I know God knows. I’d rather have HIM fix my mess than me!
Surrender, to me, is what a baby does when you feed s/he or change a diaper or whatever new mommies do. It’s that letting go and saying, “Awwww, that’s much better.” A contented feeling that your needs have been met.
FAITH is knowing your needs WILL BE met.
HUGS from my heart to you!
Beautiful thoughts….so rich in His truths…I am blessed. I especially love the quote.. “frustration can be defined as ‘the extent to which my will does not equal God’s will.’ This I will call to remembrance when i am “frustrated”. He is so faithful to provide in His timing and His ways…we are richest when we are most content in Him and His will and purposes in our lives. I rest.
yes, yes, yes…..love what corrie ten boom said about worrying (she’s right!) and what greater words from our FATHER….the yuck will come and it will hurt, but BE COMFORTED! HE has overcome the world!!! amen and amen. we can live to fight another day all because of HIM. just HIM. glory to HIS name.
another thought provoking post. love the pictures of your butterfly chaser!
You talk of feeling pushed over the hill before you’re ready? That is precisely how I felt as I heard the news two months ago that my husband has colon cancer. I must admit that someone asked how I was feeling the other day and my answer was, “frustrated!” You just put a new definition on that word for me though. I realize the real issue has been not wanting to accept God’s will for our lives right now. I can’t say I’m quite there yet, but by His grace I do want a heart of surrender to whatever He allows.
Thank you for this beautiful testimony you shared from your heart. I was ministered to in a special way.
p.s. I would appreciate your prayers for my husband. His name is Jeff.
“bottom line we want what WE want!” somehow we think we can have God’s will AND our own!! to surrender part without surrendering ALL~”
ouch! this hit home with me. Praise God for His patience and grace. Thanks for your posts. I love them!
amen…amen…amen, Amber! Thanks for the great reminder! Yes…we will have trouble…but praise God..He has OVERCOME!! What an awesome promise! Also, there is no better place to be than in the center of His will. May I daily surrender everything to Him.
p.s. loved the beautiful pics of you and your daughter in the field
Yes, at times it’s hard to see what God is doing. But never doubt that He is there. Not just standing back as an observer in your life, but guiding and directing each and every step. He is holding us. Keeping us. And drawing us closer and closer to Himself. When I see a Christian who is comfortable, and seems to never have any problems I wonder at the closeness of their relationship with our Lord. How could we ever learn that He is the Overcomer, if we had nothing for Him to overcome!
Keep your eyes on Christ. He won’t allow you to wipe out at the bottom, but have His everlasting arms open wide to catch you. So fall on Him.
Another lovely Amber-post! I’m grateful for your transparency. Keep it coming. You often say what the rest of us are feeling!
God bless.
so many times when i read your blog it’s as if i wrote it! maybe that’s what i’ll start doing – just copying your stuff over on mine since i can’t blog right now. ha-ha!! {: this is so exactly where i find myself – especially wtih one major area that’s… well, really NOT that major but since i’m struggling to yield it to God it is!! thank you for every word you wrote. gives me much to think about.
wish i were your neighbor and could run over for a nice chat at your kitchen table over coffee… but i don’t drink coffee. waht about a coke?? i think you’d make a cool neighbor!
Great post!!!
I was (in my heart) thanking you days ago for the link you sent to me for picnik. It’s exactly what i was looking for. So now that i’m finally taking the time, THANK YOU, I’m sure i’ll be using it a lot when i have more time on my hands. Sleep well and rest knowing God has THE BEST in store for you, Rachel
He has OVERCOME the world — and He can overcome our frustration and replace it w/ peace as we leave all things at His feet. ~ thank God He doesn’t leave us frustrated when we are His children.
blessings on this Thursday ~ may you sense His love so very deep and dwell in the amazement that it is UNCONDITIONAL.
lys
Thank you SO Much that is EXACTLY WHAT I need to hear. God is teaching me to wait on him, and to lean on him, and everything will fall into place! THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN!
Hope you have a great weekend!
“i’ve had my heart tested lately ~ what i see surfacing isn’t the great heart of surrender – it’s the pale heart of doubt! even dread over what the future might hold.”
this is ME! I have to smile though because God’s timing is amazing, even almost funny at times. I read this the other night but since then some things have happened that have caused these words to ring OH SO TRUE in my life! Still, I desire to have Him as Lord over ALL. I’m muddling through some things right now, but by His OVERCOMING power I will come out with a heart surrendered!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Amber. You’re an inspiration to me!
Reading your heart and praying for you little sis. . .I remember many times wishing that I could just see a little farther down the path. . .but now I see how important it was that I couldn’t. . .the Lord knew I needed to learn to trust Him. . .grow my faith. One day at a time was sometimes (ok, most of the time) all that my puny little faith could handle. Sounds like you have a pretty good handle on it.
Another great read. Such TRUE words of hope and comfort!
Have a wonderful weekend, Amber.
Just what I needed today! Frustration here in waiting for a baby’s arrival…
Excellent insight on frustration vs. surrender! I never thought of it that way before.
@Diana -
i have prayed for your husband – and will continue to do so as the Lord brings him to mind. may you continue to find strength and comfort in the arms of our Saviour~
@Meagan_girl -
too funny girl! and yes, i would prefer coke to coffee too ~ you’re welcome anytime at my kitchen table for a chat! =D