This square step may look like a simple step on a playground but, to me, it’s a recent source of frustration.
Four weeks ago, on the first day of a family vacation, I threw out my back. I couldn’t walk. My husband had to pick me up off the floor. I literally couldn’t move. I was ecstatic that this past weekend I was healed. I went from needing my chiropractor’s phone number on Thursday (in case I needed help during the holiday) to feeling like I was ready to get back into my desperately-needed workout program.
Then, Monday happened. I took our kids to the playground for a bit and stepped down on this beloved step and twisted my ankle. The initial pain made me think I had broken my ankle. I found myself taking a deep breath and looking up at the sky and mumbling, “Really, Lord? Really? I just got to feeling better and I’m injured again?!”
Have you felt this frustration before? Maybe it has looked a bit more like this…
“Please stop. That’s driving me nuts.”
“Now is not the time!”
“How am I supposed to manage THIS?”
“Here we go again!”
As we learn in Ecclesiastes, God’s plan is perfect. It can’t be undone or improved upon… even the frustrations. They require us to rely on Him even more.
I’m still trying to learn what that means in this season of ailments. But I can look back on frustrations in my life and see times when all I had to rely on was my faith in God, times when I had to ask for help from others because I simply couldn’t do it on my own, times when I really had to bite my tongue. And that’s when I was reminded of Philippians 2:14.
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” -Philippians 2:14
My prayer is that we can handle frustrations gracefully. As we get past the initial shock of the pain, disbelief, sadness, anger that our frustrations cause, may we turn to the One who can use our frustrations for His glory.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
What helps you get through your frustrations gracefully? Share in the comments below so we can learn from each other.
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