Passage of the Day:
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God, 2 Corinthians 2:12-17.
Reflection:
Initially, I was going to address impatience, but frustration is one of those feelings that is often ignited by a lack of patience. The apostle Paul was a missionary, receiving this calling along with Barnabas in Acts 13:2. If you have ever served the Lord in any compacity within a church, things rarely move at your desired pace as obstacles always seem to slow down spiritual progress. As Paul was searching for an important team member, he left Troas frustrated, moving on to Macedonia without Titus. Frustration is conceived when you don’t receive what you ask God for in prayer.
Prayerful Action:
What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end, Ecclesiastes 3:9-11.
Renewing Your Mind:
Most Christians confuse wants with needs. There are things that I really wanted for Christmas, but I don’t need them to be happy or survive. According to one of Jesus’ disciples, when your priorities aren’t in the right place or order, frustration will continue to escalate. However, as believers in God start to hunger and thirst for that which is eternal, Matthew 6:33, everything else into life will fall into place. Therefore, if you truly want to overcome frustration in 2024, set your mind on the eternal, Colossians 3:1-3, and God will take care of the rest.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
The most productive means of coping with frustration is wrestling with God in prayer, Ephesians 6:12-15. While waiting for answers to prayers may add to your frustration, God will make everything beautiful in His time.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 