FACELIFTS FALL

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“I am just frustrated.” "I’m not getting anywhere." “Roadblocks! That is all I experience. Roadblocks, roadblocks, roadblocks!” “GOD must have it in for me!” “I can’t get no traction let alone satisfaction.”

Frustration is well…frustrating. (insert silly smiley face here).

But it can be debilitating if left unchecked. It can lead to depression, apathy, and worse yet, to giving up. While at the TREE yesterday the air was thick with “frustration”. A missed deadline due to a car accident resulted in homelessness for a family. An employer's decision to guard against new pending insurance changes resulted in cut hours and now rent was an impossibility for a single mom. A neglectful landlord forced a little girl and her even "littler" girl to find a new place to live with little warning. That was just before the second cup of coffee. I could go on, but you are getting my drift.

We all have seasons of frustration in life. What we must guard against is them graduating from seasons into years.

When frustrated we blame. We sulk. We get really really angry. Some of us even act out in frustration about frustration. But like all many trials in life, in order to deal with it, we have to get to the ROOT of it! Frustration is rooted in one of three things.

Not being happy with that person in the mirror. We feel like we are lacking.

The past. Maybe it is some old “stuff” that keeps dogging us or that we can’t let go.

Or we are “out of frame” when it comes to GOD’s will for us. That will create frustration for sure. Don't think so? Think again...

Galatians 5

...It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time…all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved...You could easily tag frustration on the end of that verse.

Unfortunately we continue to try to deal with frustration by trying to deal with our external circumstances instead of these "root causes". We say things like, “I wouldn’t be frustrated if this changed or that changed”. Changing the "outside" becomes the perceived solution. But those solutions will only lead to more frustration. Bigger is not always better. Grass is not always greener. Sparkles fade, cars rust, houses age, and facelifts fall.

Dealing with frustration is an INSIDE job because it is an INSIDE problem!

When frustrations surface instead of wishing things were better or shaking our fist at the antagonist, go to the WORD and ask GOD for the strength and wisdom to deal and cope with the SOURCE OF FRUSTRATION! And yes that may mean asking GOD to help YOU deal with YOU!

But GOD will provide the answer! GOD will provide the wisdom. GOD will provide the tools to cope! GOD promises to help in all aspects!

Isaiah 41:10 ESV

…be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Joshua 1:9

…don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.”

So if you are experiencing a little frustration this morning (ask Beth, we were just 6 minutes ago), give IT (the source) to GOD; (which is what I am doing right now) and allow Him to strengthen, education and assist you and remember...

Philippians 4:13

...we can do all things through him who strengthens us...

I love you all!

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney