Psalm 37:1-Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. NKJV
The Oxford dictionary defines frustration as “the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something.” Frustration isn’t limited to the ungodly, the backslidden, or even the struggling Christian. Frustration happens to us all!
Frustration is the result of a variety of circumstances. People become frustrated when their dreams don’t come to pass. Frustration can be the result of feeling like things are not happening fast enough for you. Or frustration can overtake you when you have put your all into something, and it was viewed as not good enough! Yes! We have all experienced frustration on some level.
Throughout the scriptures, we have many examples of those who probably experienced their own frustrations. Noah was probably frustrated as he built the ark, and the people laughed and made fun of him. I’m sure Joseph was pretty frustrated when he told the cupbearer to remember him to Pharoah after interpreting his dreams, and the man forgot! Jeremiah was frustrated as he proclaimed God’s messages to the people, and they threw him in the dungeon. David was frustrated with Joab after he killed Abner because David had already joined forces with him.
What frustrates you today? What is going on in your life, or the world around you that you feel you have no control or little control over, and it annoys you? What is causing you to become so frustrated that underneath it all, there is a slow burn leading to anger or bitterness? Whatever it is, the psalmist noted that if you continue allowing it to have free reign in your emotions, it will cause you harm:
do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm
Psalm 37b-38 NKJV
As I mentioned already, David understood frustration! After all, he had been anointed king of Israel, yet he was running for his life from the ousted king, King Saul. He had saved Saul and the kingdom from the Philistines by killing Goliath, and Saul wanted him dead. Frustrated! As he was running for his life, he ended up in one situation after another. There was Nabal the fool, who refused to feed him and his men, although they had protected him. Frustrated! While he and his men were out to battle, his town was overrun, their families were taken, and they wanted to kill David! Frustrating!
But David had some advice for those of us who experience frustration because they were things he learned along the way. He said:
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:2 NKJV
Trust in the Lord, David said! Give that stuff over to the only One who can change it, or change you! He is faithful, and that is what we should be focusing on, not on the things, or people, that frustrate us! I’m talking to myself right now! God is so faithful, and the things that frustrate us are not greater than the One who loves us! We need to learn that as we trust Him, He will give us the desire of our hearts!
Do you desire to be free of the feelings of frustrations that are trying to cripple, immobilize, and cause you to give up? Then those are desires He can most certainly supply! No one wants to see you free of those frustrations more than He does!
Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 37:3 NKJV
There are some things that are going to have to be entrusted to the Lord! I can’t control other people’s actions, but I can control how I respond to them. I can’t control how the economy is going, or the high prices for goods and services, but I can control my spending and saving. I am going to have to trust those things that I can’t control to the Lord! David continued his thought by saying,
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him
Psalm 37:7a NKJV
How do we get a grip on frustration? David encouraged us to rest in the Lord and to wait patiently for Him. It may seem like things are never going to change, or they will never get better! But this is when we rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him! It may seem like it is taking too long for God to move on your behalf, but rest in Him and wait patiently for Him! Frustrations come to us all, but we must get a grip on them, and place them in the hand of God! I’m talking to myself today! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 