by Janet Wahlquist
The Police chief interviews one of his bumbling officers and a slight tic develops over his right eye. With the next blunder of the unfortunate detective, the tic is more pronounced. By the third meeting with his ineffective officer, the chief is obviously breaking under the strain of utter frustration. By the time the movie ends, he is a raving maniac. This kind of "comedy" is very common and strikes us as so funny in books, TV, or movies, etc. We can relate. It's humorous because it is happening to someone else. But is Frustration a laughing matter?
What does the opposite of Faith look like? Yes, it is lack of faith, but how do I know when I lack faith? I believe that lack of faith can manifest itself as irritation, frustration and exasperation.* Christians today have made these attitudes acceptable. It's O.K. to get fed up with something. It's O.K. to sigh, moan, fume, or grit your teeth. What makes it fine? The issues one is facing validate a wrong response, it is believed. This puts the blame for our attitudes on circumstances. We are not seen as responsible for our reactions. "See how bad life is treating me? I have a right to this rant." "And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." (Luke 16:15) We are responsible for our reactions. And they will reveal our faith or lack of it.
The justification for our little fits is that whatever we are going through is tough, troublesome, or trying. But these things are controlled by God. Rather than labeling these attitudes as normal, it would be more in line with scripture to see them as signs of losing sight of God. Frustration is a signal that I am not looking at the world with the eyes of faith. I need to confess this failure, and cry out to God to increase my faith. "And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith." (Luke 17:5) "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." (Heb. 11:38) Faith, not frustration, is the mark of where we are receiving our life and who we are living for. "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry." (Heb. 10:36, 37) "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Php. 2:12) We must be fearful to indulge in fits of frustration. This dishonors our sovereign God. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." (Ps. 23:1)
Faith is key to honoring God. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Heb. 11:6) We are not pleasing God when we allow for irritation and impatience. How often Jesus chided His disciples for lack of faith ("O ye of little faith"). At times, He even worked miracles according to the measure of faith certain people possessed (Mt 6:30, Mt 9:29, and many others). What wonderful miracles we will experience when we practice faith instead of frustration. "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward." (Heb. 10:35) "Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" (Ps. 31:19) "And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matt. 14:29-31) Our fits of frustration reveal our doubt in God and His goodness.
God's faithful followers see beyond their situation and look to God. They trust in Him. The frustrated see only the situation itself. Blind to God's loving and omnipotent hand, they lash out at Him by their wrong attitude. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb 11:1) Paul writes in Hebrews that we should have confidence in the promises, have patience, and live by faith not by sight. A person living like this is not grinding his teeth and bemoaning his lot. He is waiting confidently for God to show Himself strong in every situation. He knows that every thing works together for his good. God is sovereign. He is the author and creator. Each trial, big or small, is His good pleasure. All things are crafted for our good. If we pout or fume or tremble because our situation does not please us, we are putting ourselves in the place of God, deciding what is good or evil. He will do His good pleasure. God worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. We are shaking our fist at Him by choosing to indulge in manifestations of anger and blaming someone or something else. Let us be confident in our great Provider, our Shepherd who oversees the details of our lives. As Rousas John Rushdoony states, 'Saint Paul, faced with the trials of the saints, declared, "What shall we then say to theses things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:3). The sovereignty of God over history is emphatically the Biblical view. God predestines, creates, and totally governs all history.'
*Another signal of lack of faith can be the attitude encompassing fear, anxiety, or worry.
