PEACE OR FRUSTRATION
I heard a teaching recently about the spirits that attack Christians. During a message the minister made a statement that has changed some things happening in my life – it caused me to see things in a totally different light.
He said ‘frustration is the opposite of peace.’ I had never thought about that – he was talking about a spirit of frustration and how it would attack a Christian. Most people think that frustration is simply a part of daily life and endure it or perhaps even allow it to control them.
Recently I have been extremely busy, with my mind on many different things. I have found when I am this busy at times little things will frustrate me. Like things not being done when they are supposed to be done, or a little four year old wanting to play when I need to work.
When we allow ourselves to become frustrated many times it doesn’t end well. We may say or do things we will later regret, we may even make decisions that we wouldn’t make if we hadn’t been frustrated, if we had been in peace.
God’s word says that He has called us to peace. If we are walking in frustration, we are not in peace and His is a covenant of peace.
As I thought about how frustration had been affecting my life lately, I decided to change it as I still believe everything is a choice and we can respond according to the word, if we so choose. I also decided to look up frustration in the word of God. I was surprised to find it in Deuteronomy 28. It turns out that frustration is part of the curse; it is one definition of vexation. Now, I saw that when I am frustrated I am allowing myself to walk in the effects of the curse…that will not happen.
I have found that I can be frustrated at a bunch of little things or I can pray and ask God to help me and then I can respond in patience and love and peace. It has taken some discipline but I have not allowed things to frustrate me any longer. I made myself STOP and have peace. I made myself STOP and breathe when I needed to. I made myself slow down and not allow the little things to get to me.
I have often felt that we settle for far less than what God has promised us, I also feel that we often tolerate things we have been redeemed from, things we no longer have to tolerate, frustration and its effects are one of these things.
Friends, we all…every single day…have an opportunity to be frustrated and to act on that frustration…we all do. However, we all have a choice as well; we can choose PEACE or frustration.
I don’t know what has been frustrating you today but I do know that frustration is not from God. Frustration is the opposite of peace. It is not from God – don’t let it have any power over you from this day on. Choose peace instead.
When little things try to frustrate you…stop…and breathe…and respond according to the word of God. Don’t allow things to PUSH you or PRESS you, instead stay in peace. It may take some practice but it is definitely worth it. Frustration is from the devil…don’t tolerate it another day…walk in peace…God’s peace.
…..This ‘n That from the Heartland by the way of Cup O’ Cheer (cheer316@sc.rr.com and “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)
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