Frustrations, and how to deal with them

Yesterday we saw that if we have frustrations and are bone-weary and discouraged, we should pay attention to statements of Jesus in our passage (and a couple of verses further on!). The disciples, and especially Simon Peter, were so frustrated and tired. . . .

He asked them if they had any meat -- because He wanted them to admit and to share their needs with Him.

Then He asked if Simon loved Him, more "than these."

Jesus' third statement is a reminder to serve the Lord with all our heart. When we tell Him our needs, and we love Him more than anything else, then the next step to solving frustrations is to serve Him wholeheartedly, without reservation, with enthusiasm.

Jesus told Peter that if he truly loved Him he would feed His sheep.

We need to examine our hearts honestly and see if our love for the Lord is moving us to become servants to the Lord.
All of us can give of ourselves and our resources to serve Him. He loves to see us give Him our time, our talents, and our gifts.
He expects us to be faithful -- in fact He sets an example for us:

                          Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God 
                          who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him
                          and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.
                          (Deuteronomy 7:9)

                          God is faithful, by whom you were called into the  fellowship
                          of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (I Corinthians 1:9)

So, too, we can be faithful in pleasant times and in frustrations:

                          Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various
                          kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces stead-
                          fastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be
                          perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)

If we will give all that we have to the Lord, He will reward us for all of our efforts. We show our love to Christ by serving others. Simon Peter was called here by Jesus to care for His flock. It's the work of a pastor, sure, but it's also the work of every Christian -- for by serving others, we serve Christ.

                           Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to
                           serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various
                           forms. (I Peter 4:10)

So, if we have a need, a frustration, the Lord has an answer. He will meet us wherever we are, and provide an answer, sometimes a miracle, if we will call upon Him. If there is anything in our lives that we place before the Lord, we need to take it off the throne of our hearts and put the Lord there. And lastly, we need to let our love for the Lord move us to be a servant for Him, utilizing our time, our talents, and our gifts to serve Him with all our hearts.

God will bless us as we serve Him, and He will cause us to be a blessing to others.

We don't often turn to Malachi, but check out this verse for today's study:

                        They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when
                        I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a
                        man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall
                        see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between
                        one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
                        (Malachi 3:17-18)

And these:

                       Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according
                       to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart,
                      as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the
                      servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good
                      will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that
                      whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive
                      of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. (Ephesians 6:6-8)

                     If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the
                     afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom
                     be as the noonday. (Isaiah 58:10)

                      How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those
                      who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take
                      refuge in you. (Psalm 31:19)

Wonderful promises from His Word, that heal our frustrated, weary minds and hearts!