By Tope Banso
POUR OUT YOUR FRUSTRATIONS TO GOD
“I cry out to the LORD; I plead for the LORD’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles” (Psalm 142:1-2 New Living Translations).
Frustration is “a key negative emotion that roots in disappointment (Latin frustra or ‘in vain’) and can be defined as irritable distress after a wish collided with an unyielding reality” (www.researchgate.net). It is also defined as a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs.
Everyone, including children of God, faces frustrating situations at one stage or the other in life. Frustration can set in when someone doesn’t see progress in what he’s doing, when he doesn’t see result in a particular endeavour, when a particular negative condition seems to be defying all remedies or efforts, etc.
In Jeremiah 20:7-10, a prophet of God of Jeremiah’s standing, out of frustration, wrongly accused God of deceiving or misleading him. But it wasn’t true that God deceived him when He called him to be a prophet. Jeremiah said that because of what he was going through. He spoke out of frustration, not that he didn’t have trust in God. The people were laughing at him because of the prophecies God sent to the people through him. The people also persecuted him because of this. Nevertheless, God understood why Jeremiah spoke in that manner. He didn’t kill him because of what he said!
In Ezra 4:5, the Bible says the people, who were living in Jerusalem at the time the Jewish captives returned and were rebuilding the temple of the LORD, hired counselors against them to frustrate the building project all through the days of Cyrus king of Persia. Their efforts to frustrate the Jews and the project continued until the reign of Dairus king of Persia.
The devil always seeks to frustrate us at different points in life. What is important is how to handle our frustrations so that we don’t give up. We must overcome and go ahead to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives.
Some people talk to everybody about their frustrating situations, except the most important person. Sometimes they waste their time discussing with people who may only make them a subject of gossip rather than be of help. Be selective about people you share your frustrations with, if you must.
Let the Holy Spirit lead you about the person to share your frustration with – nobody is an island to himself. “Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are really a nobody” (Galatians 6:2-3 New Living Translation).
Romans 12:15 says, “When others are happy, be happy with them. If they are sad, share their sorrow” (New Living Translation). You need other people in your life. However, you should be selective about those you discuss your challenges with. God may use some people, in His own way, to help you. Nonetheless, you should realize that there is a limit to what human beings can do for you even if they have the best intentions.
Consider this dialogue between Rachel and her husband, Jacob: “When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children, she became jealous of her sister. ‘Give me children, or I’ll die!’ she exclaimed to Jacob. Jacob flew into a rage. ‘Am I God?’ he asked. ‘He is the only one able to give you children!’” (Genesis 30:1-2 New Living Translation). Jacob admitted his limitation. As much as he loved Rachel, he couldn’t help her until God opened her womb.
Elkanah couldn’t help Hannah either until God answered her prayer and gave the fruits of the womb. Hannah discovered the secret of pouring her soul unto God rather than bemoaning the taunting of her rival, Peninnah.
She replied Eli who had accused her of drunkenness that she wasn’t drunk but she had poured out her soul before the LORD (1 Samuel 1:12-16). While you may discuss with the people you consider necessary to talk to, first of all, pour out your soul before the LORD.
Learn to pour out your frustrations first to God rather than to human beings. God can handle the emotional expression of your frustrations. Don’t pretend that you are not hurting or things are going well when that’s not true. Don’t suppress or deny your feelings. Be honest before God. He understands.God can bear your sincere complaints or outburst. You can’t surprise Him by anything you say.
Pouring out your frustrations to God helps you to let off the steam and you are one step closer to your healing or miracle! If you read the psalms attributed to David, you would see how, many times, he poured out his frustrations to God. He said, in Psalm 142:1-2, “I cry out to the LORD; I plead for the LORD’s mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles” (New Living Translation).
God won’t hold against you anything you say to Him in your frustration. Give all your worries to the LORD, because He cares about you (1 Peter 5:7). If you’ll give your burdens to the LORD, He’ll take care of you; He’ll not permit you to stumble and fall (Psalm 55:22).
Philippians 4:6 says you should not worry about anything but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. Pour out your frustrations to God. God will process your frustrations and produce miracles out of them.
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Whoever comes to Him, He will by no means cast out.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I will tell you exactly how I feel. I will pour out my frustrations to you because you love me dearly. Father, meet at the point of their needs those going through frustrations at the moment.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For more inspiring messages, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪ Banso, an Abuja-based pastor, heads Cedar Ministry International, can be reached on Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; and at cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com
; WhatsApp No: +2349081295947