What Does Worry Have to Do with Frustration?

Worry is closely associated with fear or guilt. Worry can be active below our consciousness even when we’re focused on other activities. Being confronted with a lack of faith in God’s guidance and care, we tend to lapse into apprehensiveness about what will surely transpire in the future.

Worry is allied with anxiety and fear because of our lack of control over other people and events. Apprehensiveness can be relieved by taking action to correct what is wrong rather than obsessing over the problems. This means asking God to help you discover solutions.

Worry creates frustration, which implies lack of trust for God’s immediate help. 

God does expect us to take responsibility for what we failed to do in the past. When you do take responsibility, God will do his part by giving you insight and wisdom for making things right. You can trust God to be faithful to his word when you seek his guidance.  

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Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

~Psalm 37:7 New Living Translation

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What Makes Jesus' Narrow Gate So Difficult?

How committed are you to becoming the person you know you’re capable of becoming at this moment? Here’s how to do your part. Guard against a negative or pessimistic attitude that’s so discouraging. Jesus points to the narrow way, which guards against discouragement.

David in Psalm 119: 71 said, “When you corrected me, O Lord, it was good for me because it taught me to listen and apply your word to my life.” What is God teaching you and where is he leading you today?

Tragedy befalls each person, but for those who trust in the Lord Jesus, there is hope for help and healing. The worst thing life dishes out will ultimately produce good for those who love God. Listen to his word: “Trust in the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Don’t give in to worry or anger. God will take care of you, so wait patiently for him to provide what you need. 

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Jesus replied, “…I will only reveal myself to those who love me and obey me. The Father will love them too, and we will come to them and live with them.”

~John 14: 23 The Living Bible

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Be Still and See What God Will Do

One mistake people make when undertaking a new beginning is failing to realize possible obstacles that will be encountered on the way to success. The newly freed Hebrew slaves from Egypt appeared to be naive about what lay in store for them as they approached the border of Egypt and freedom.

Upon encountering the hard realities of the desert, they blamed Moses for their troubles. "Did you bring us out of Egypt to let us die here?”  Fear is normal when facing danger, but fear can stifle confidence. Ben Jonson wrote in 1598 that  "There is no greater hell than to be a prisoner of fear.”

God’s way is not easy, but he never abandons his people when difficult times show up. Listen to Moses’ message to the Hebrew people and us: "Don't be afraid, stand still and you will see the Lord save you. Remain calm and the Lord will fight for you."  Are these words relevant for what you’re facing today?

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Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their evil schemes.

~Psalm 37:7 New Living Translation

 

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

~Psalm 62:5 New International Version

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Self-Regulate! Don't Crowd the Edge

The majority of human beings intuitively know when they’re crowding the edge of what is healthy and acceptable. Self-regulation, or self-control, is a boundary marker designed to keep us within the limits of acceptable behavior. Competent self-regulation is dependent on our mental and emotional state to facilitate responsible choices.

Healthy self-control involves more than refraining from behaving in ways that are on the edge. So the more emotionally threatened you feel at any moment determines the accuracy of your judgments. Self-regulating what you think and how you talk is critical to believing you are emotionally unwavering in common sense.

Self-regulating requires exercising constraints rather than rushing forward without considering the consequences. Psalm 37:7 tells us to “be patient and wait for the Lord to act. Don’t be envious of evil people who seem to succeed in their evil ways.” Jesus was constantly waiting and encouraging his disciples to wait for God’s perfect timing. 

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While [Jesus] was still with them, he said: “Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do.”

~Acts 1:4 Contemporary English Version

And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.

~Galatians 6:9 The Living Bible