Family Man Librarian

Hebrews 10:35-36 (KJV)

35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Frustration can be a lack of knowing what your goals are. If you believe that you can do God's will in all circumstances - even in tribulations - being frustrated means that you need to pay attention to where God is trying to lead. Illness, unemployment and rebellious children are opportunities to demonstrate Christian character - thus doing God's will.

I think I'd agree that the ultimate answer is patience. For me, frustration is also a result, sometimes, of confusing the things over which I have control. I like the serenity prayer ("grant me the serenity to accept the things I can't change, courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference") as a practice for dealing with these particular things/times. Patience is a part of that of course, but there is also the desire for wisdom.

Kevin, agreed. I don't handle that whole "lack of control" thing very well,
obviously. And at the same time I realize that there is very little over
which I truly have any control...

Frustration causes physical reactions in the body. These can be bad for your health over time. Physical exercise will burn off the flight-or-flight chemicals released by frustration. Only treats the symptons, not the cause of the frustration, but it does leave you better equipt to deal with the causes. I prefer a swim, my co-worker runs, and my wife walks. Find what works best for you.

David, thanks, I think exercise would help me a lot. Now I need to just "do
it."

John, thanks for your comment and I appreciate your prayers.

Steve

I'm sure you know the Bible well enough...these thing helps A LOT: 1) receive the weekly prayer list of any large church and pray for each one and 2) take some quiet time to reflect on His past obvious blessings. I will pray for you.

One way to deal with intense frustration is to assess the importance of frustration - better yet, the causes of frustration - compared to some higher goal or focus point. Its like having a trajectory, but with an added measure of flexibility. Since you refer to what Catholics call Sacred Scripture, the Scriptures themselves speak over and over again, and at length, about what's important.

The different books of the Bible, being different in literary form and structure, contain endless examples, suited to different people, different temperaments, and different personality types, about keeping the focus on God's endless generosity, loving-kindess and patience, both with His people, Israel, and later, by extension, all who are dignified with the title Christian (and indeed anyone seeking God with a sincere heart).

If life forever with God is my ultimate goal, the day's frustrations may by comparison be reduced insignificance.

A caveat, though, based on personal experience working at a mental health agency. Let me first say that I am not a healthcare professional. Any one who even thinks they have a problem should seek competent help. I do not mean to imply that others have problems, only that I'm a dumb bloke who's just trying to be helpful.

Okay, that said, nothing I'm saying should artificially diminish some real and continuing source of frustration. For example, if some one is hitting another person, I am not saying put up with it while focusing on a better life some day. By all means, call a cop or something.

My 2 cents worth.

Thanks Mark, this is helpful.

Steve