Five Steps for Handling Frustration
By Rick Warren
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3 NIV).
Here are five simple steps for dealing with frustrations in your life.
Ask yourself, “Did I cause it?” The Bible says, “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7b NIV). We are often frustrated by things in life because we bring them on ourselves.
Ask yourself, “What can I learn from it? ”>Romans 8:28b says, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him” (NIV). There are many bad things in the world, but all things work together. God can even take the negative and turn it into a positive if we let him. Use irritation as an opportunity to become more like Christ.
Thank God in the situation. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18a we read, “Give thanks in all circumstances” (NIV). You don’t have to be thankful for a bad situation, but you can be thankful in a bad situation. Frustration may be a blessing in disguise.
Turn the frustration into a funny, humorous event. The Bible says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22a NIV). A sense of humor is God’s antidote for anger and frustration.
Ask God to fill you with his love. Why? Because 1 Corinthians 13:5b says, “[Love] is not easily angered” (NIV). Love is self-giving, not self-serving. We get irritated because we think everyone and everything has to revolve around us. Love concentrates on the other person.
Jesus faced constant frustrations, but he never got irritated. He always made time for people. We get so preoccupied with our own things that we forget that people are the priority in life.
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Talk It Over
Think about a frustration you are facing, and apply these steps —
Ask yourself, “Did I cause it?”
“A man reaps what he sows”(Galatians 6:7b NIV).
Ask yourself, “What can I learn from it?”
“In all things God works for the good of those who love him”(Romans 8:28b NIV).
Thank God in the situation.
“Give thanks in all circumstances”(1 Thessalonians 5:18a NIV).
Turn the frustration into a funny, humorous event.
“A cheerful heart is good medicine”(Proverbs 17:22a NIV).
Ask God to fill you with his love.
“[Love] is not easily angered”(1 Corinthians 13:5b NIV).
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This devotional © 2017 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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