Frustration

How many are living a frustrated life? Are you of that number? What is causing so many to feel unfulfilled, or have the impression something is holding them back from achieving their dreams. Even those who have achieved much of their ambition, still lag in feeling complete. In spite of the fact that peace in found in Jesus Christ, it still eludes a number of believers. Even with having Jesus, they feel frustrated and unfulfilled. What gives?

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

By now, most have read, “No Jesus, no peace; know Jesus, know peace. This statement is absolutely true. He is our Hope and without Him the heart is sick. So in short, the quick pat answer for frustrated non-believers is come to know Jesus. But what about the believer who still lacks peace? Here some questions to deeply consider, because the answers play a key role to finding the answer to the original one: what does your relationship with God look like? What does it consist of? Sure, you prayed the prayer and asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. So, what does that mean to you, and how does He fit into your life? If you’re looking to fit Him in, you already have things backwards. More on that in a minute.

Second series of questions: do you believe the Bible is true? To what extent? Have you really pressed into it in order to find what God has to say to you through its pages? Do you read your Bible consistently, or are you consistently inconsistent? If you do read it, do you allow it to change the way you think -does it lead to repentance where needed? How can you completely embrace Jesus as Lord, if you ignore His Word to you? What is more meaningful to you, what the Bible says or man’s opinion? If you value man’s opinion more than God’s, you’re already in trouble. How much sense does it make to put a created being above the Creator, or to take your cue from those who might know some things, versus the One Who truly knows everything? Whose report do you really believe? Sure, sometimes the Bible can be hard to understand; and yet, much of it is very straight forward. It doesn’t take a scholar to decipher what Scripture means when it says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength” (see Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30). “Love your neighbor as yourself” needs no interpretation (see also Matthew 22:39). The Bible is not a textbook to be studied with your mind; it is relational and requires interaction with Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 2:9-16). Ask Him to reveal His Word to you.

Third series of questions: do you believe God, and do you trust Him? Do you believe what He says? Are you skeptical and find yourself looking for reasons to disbelieve? If so, where does that come from? Does God have to live up to your expectations before you will serve Him?  Are you disappointed with Him, or even perhaps, angry with Him? Are you of the number who love to put God in a box, and then wonder why you never see miracles? Some complain that they never see any. Have you truly surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ?

As long as people make themselves the center of the universe, they will ever remain unfulfilled, pure and simple! If you fail to find out from God where you fit into His purposes, and insist on Him conforming to your plans, you will never be satisfied in life -ever! The most satisfying or fulfilling place you can be is the center of His will. The reason some areas of the world don’t see the healings and miracles is believers don’t really believe, and have not completely surrendered to the Lord. They merely want a Savior. They want fire insurance, so they can go on living the way they desire without consequences. They are committed to Him so long as it’s convenient. By the way, there are areas that do see many healings and miracles. Do you love God? Here’s what Jesus has to say about that:

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

“As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is My commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:9-14).

If you truly want to follow Jesus, consider His Word: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25).

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