So God causes frustration within his own created order? Which includes us? Why would he do that?
To rescue us; to “liberate [us] from bondage to decay and [bring us] into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”
Which means: God frustrates you to rescue you. To deliver you from the false god of self-sufficiency and drive you to your knees in submission to him.
Addicts who continue to look in vain for a high that is as good as that first one: God frustrates you to rescue you.
Pastors who wonder why that new program/paradigm/seminar is not bringing in the growth it promised: God frustrates you to rescue you.
Young adults who set happiness as a primary goal in life and then wonder why you never achieve it: God frustrates you to rescue you.
Older adults wondering how to make the time you have count: God frustrates you to rescue you.
If you are frustrated and ill-at-ease today, then join the crowd. Chances are good that God is trying to rid you of any vestige of self-reliance.
Your
frustration is God’s gift to you.
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Thanks for those insights as to understanding the frustration I deal with daily. So, I should be thankful? But at the same time be searching for what He is trying to cleanse me of? Guess I had better start searching!
Ok Talbot, but here is one of the many questions I have wrestled with as I attempt to move in a spiritual direction. (I should probably use the word Christian but… not yet) how do you stop feeling frusturated without giving up? What I am attempting to say is how do you find your calling if you let God in?
Sorry it is convoluted, but it is where I am.
What a great question.
And I believe the answer is implicit in what you ask: God does want you to give up. He wants you to give up any pretense that you’ve got life or eternity figured out on your own.
In the language of recovery, he wants you and me all and of us to “admit that we are powerless.”
Giving up in this case is not giving in. It’s releasing control to the sovereignty of God.
So you stop feeling frustrated when you give up.
Now as far as your calling after that . . . we’re all still figuring that part out. Again, like recovery, it’s one “step” at a time. I’m still trying to understand my calling.
Thanks for such a thought provoking question.