James 1:12
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him
Reflection: Dealing with annoyance and frustration.
Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro
Have you ever been really annoyed and frustrated? Obviously, you have been… we all have been. In my own personal life, I have recently been as frustrated as I have been in a long time. This is the kind of deep-seated frustration that is like a scratch you can’t get to. Annoyance. Aggravation. Ughhhhhhhhh. I feel like Charlie Brown today, misunderstood and frustrated. This kind of thing is rare for me as I experience it maybe every five years. The remedy for me, once I get past my own sense of despair and sulking, really is simple. I remember that God is in control.
I literally say to myself, “Self… God is in control.” He is sovereign. Sometimes, when I feel maligned or stressed, my only recourse is to know that God has ordained my circumstances. He has ordered my steps. He is more intimately involved in my affairs than I fully notice. Some people may not be comfortable with a God like this, but I find these realities reassuring and comforting. I am comforted by the fact that in days in which I am discouraged, I know that God is there under it all… over it… through it. He is in control.
Does it make the circumstances better? No. But the knowledge of God’s sovereignty gives me the solid ground that I know things aren’t haphazard and “out of control.” My world is not spinning. I am settled in Christ and He is watching and caring for me, ordering my steps with good intentions. And I can trust him… even in the middle of my annoyances.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for being watchful over me… guiding me through the frustrations of life.
