Overcoming the self-inflicted wound of frustration …

All of us have experienced frustration at some point in our lives, but some people become so entangled in frustration that it does harm to their lives.

Left unaddressed, we can wound ourselves with our own thinking by allowing our minds to be the breeding ground for frustration. And frustration left unabated can bring down the heartiest among us, something Wade Hughes illustrates with this story …

Have you heard the story of a majestic eagle that lived in the safety of the high cliffs, and often flew to lofty heights? He could dive at great speeds. He often felt he was invincible, that nothing could take him down.

A hunter studied the eagle day after day, and prepared himself for the hunt. The man was very patient and waited for just the right moment.

One day the hunter stepped out of the snare, he had the perfect opportunity. He drew back his bow and shot the beautiful, strong eagle and his arrow buried in the eagle’s chest.

The eagle fell to the ground, and he realized he was mortally shot. To his dismay, when he raised his head, he saw the tip of the arrow’s shaft. There glued to the straight shaft was the eagle’s own feathers!

His feathers had guided the arrow that was snuffing out his life.

How sad – he thought he was invincible and his own feathers helped bring him down.

Chronic frustration will bring down the “invincible” — our enemy has no effective method or weapon of destroying you — unless you give him the ammunition.

A frustrated person may think their frustration is something that happens to them, but it isn’t. So what is frustration? It’s the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something. The emotion of frustration is generated by our thinking; the more we ruminate on the things we can’t change or cannot achieve, the more we foster the emotions of frustration.

Because of that simple fact, defeating frustration is fairly straightforward: change your thinking!

For example: Thousands of elite athletes vy for an opportunity to compete in the Olympic games with a dream of winning a gold medal in their event. Far fewer of those elite athletes will even get a chance to compete in the Olympic Games, and only one person in each event will win a gold medal. If an athlete constantly plays over and over in their minds the errors, or slightest of lack that keeps them from winning, they can become chronically frustrated and depressed. But if they change their thinking to appreciate the opportunity to be an Olympic athlete and compete with the world’s best, they can avoid an unnecessary frustration.

Some scenarios are much more difficult and negative to a person’s life, but constantly ruminating on an inability to change a situation or relationship only results in frustration, not improvement.

So, in addition to changing your thinking, frustration is best prevented through a robust prayer life. If you’re feeling frustrated, you’re not praying enough!

For example: someone you love misunderstood something you said and has distanced themself from you. Regardless of your efforts to clarify their inaccurate thoughts, they remain aloof, and that has hurt the relationship. Instead of making yourself miserable over something you cannot control, you can pray to the One who controls all things. By taking our concerns, trials, problems, and anxieties to the Lord and entrusting them with Him, we can have peace that God can make all things work to the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). Prayer redirects your frustration-producing ruminations of being unable to affect change or accomplish something to talking with God about the issue and trusting His take on the situation, regardless of what it might be.

If you’re feeling frustrated, change your thinking! And the best way to do that is by talking to God. You cannot trust God with what you cannot change or achieve and still be frustrated.

Scotty