A Frustrated Jesus

Lately I have been very frustrated over certain things. I work daily on trying to be patient and content but lately I have really have been frustrated over items and people in my life. What I think should happen just doesn't happen. And I’m frustrated. It has caused me to lose sleep, not trust people, become irritable, and I'm constantly thinking, " what’s next?" Then I realize - you selfish individual. Who is the one being constantly blessed by God? Your frustrated? God should be the one frustrated with me. Not placing all this at His feet and trusting and having faith that He will make the very best out of it.

In Matthew 17 beginning with verse 14:

There’s a story of a frustrated Jesus.

“Jesus and the followers went back to the people. A man came to Jesus and bowed before him. The man said, "Lord, be kind to my son. He has epilepsy and is suffering very much. My son often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought my son to your followers, but they could not heal him." Jesus answered, "You people have no faith. Your lives are all wrong. How long must I stay with you? How long must I continue to be patient with you? Bring the boy here." Jesus gave a strong command to the demon inside the boy. Then the demon came out of the boy, and the boy was healed. Then the followers came to Jesus alone. They said, "We tried to force the demon out of the boy, but we could not. Why were we not able to make the demon go out?" Jesus answered, "You were not able to make the demon go out, because your faith is too small. I tell you the truth. If your faith is as big as a mustard seed, then you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there.' And it will move. All things will be possible for you."

Why had Jesus' closest followers not been able to heal the boy?

Matthew 17:19 says that it was because they did not have enough faith.

But why was that? Was it because of Jesus' absence? Was it because of the leaders' among the apostles being with Jesus? Was it because they simply lost faith in what Jesus had equipped them and empowered them to do?

What frustrates you?

Jesus is surely frustrated with our vain attempts to live for him and bless others with his grace. Just as Moses came down from his mountaintop experience with God and found frustration and faithlessness, Jesus does, too.

The message for us? Surely we must understand that we must have faith and when we do, Jesus can do great things through us.

But ... Jesus can and will do things without us if we choose not to follow and obey him. The issue is one of honoring and blessing him by having faith.

Frustration will occur at times. That’s being human. But Christians can take all that possible negative energy and turn it into great positive accomplishments for Jesus and for others.