Jesus is known for HIs patience. So, did He ever get frustrated like the rest of all mankind? The answer is a resounding, YES! There are more than a half dozen Scriptures revealing His frustration but none more emphatic than Matthew 17:17 which reads: “Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.” Wow! How would you like to be looking into the face of the Savior and have Him say this to you? I would NOT! Calling me faithless, perverse, and telling me I am insufferable. All of this is truth, but to have Him verbalize it in front of others? Some days I cannot even muster a mustard seed of faith, I let profanity flow out of my mouth, and I repeat the same sins over and over.
What causes frustration in the Lord the most? Unbelief? Lack of faith? The Pharisees acting like a pack of hyenas? Peter’s lack of self control? Thomas’ doubt? A quick journey through the gospels may give us the insight we need to not be the cause of His frustration today. I personally do not want to be standing in front of Him when the Sword comes out of His mouth (Revelation 1:16) I prefer to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)
Matthew 8:26, Mark 9:19, & Luke 9:41 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
Matthew 11:20-24 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be[a] brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
Hang in there with me. Just a few more scriptures. They really are important to chew on.
Matthew 16:8-11 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?[c] 9 Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 10 Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Matthew 16:22-23 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Luke 11:29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.[a]
Do you see, it is not our failures that frustrate Him. It is not our lack of knowledge. It is not our slow growth into maturity. What frustrates Jesus is our lack of FAITH and being more interested in the miracles than the miracle worker. Jesus wants us to TRUST Him! He cannot help us if we doubt Him and will not let Him be our Lord.
We are a generation of spiritual Alzheimer’s sufferers. We fail to REMEMBER! We do not count our blessings and recall all He has done in the past. We cannot look back and see how He has carried us through many a dark day. WE are just like the Israelites. We forget He is a Creator of good out of nothing! Just reread Genesis 1. He speaks and it is GOOD!
What frustrates you? Really frustrates you? Get down to the heart of the matter. Aren’t you frustrated by others not believing in you? Not trusting you? Not obeying you (if you are a teacher or parent or boss)? We are created in HIS image! He breathed life into us and gives us air to breathe every minute of every day. Jesus in His humanity was like we are! And, by His life He proves we can be like HIM! We can grow into His perfection by the choices we make.
Ann Voskamp in her book One Thousand Gifts says writing down just three things every day you are thankful for will bring joy and reduce anxiety by 25%! Who could not use less stress! Just three a day equals one thousand a year and our eyes open to the goodness of God even in the midst of suffering. Psychology Today, Apr 3, 2015 reports: Gratitude reduces a multitude of toxic emotions, from envy and resentment to frustration and regret. Robert Emmons, a leading gratitude researcher, has conducted multiple studies on the link between gratitude and well-being. His research confirms that gratitude effectively increases happiness and reduces depression. And Brene’ Brown says when we practice gratitude we dissolve the one of the consequences of the “critics in our arena”–scarcity: The fear of “not enoughness.”
Do you wonder like I do, why am I just now learning this? II Corinthians 4:4 states, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” This is why believing in Jesus is so vital to our well being. It is not just about eternity. It is for NOW! I Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.“ Giving thanks keeps my eyes on Him and reduces His frustration in me! I be needing some of this!
Jesus got frustrated and stated His frustration to help His followers learn what He expected. This is ALL He asked them for: Faith. His frustration was channeled into the right direction: training, encouragement, and conviction. He did not condemn. He did not belittle. He did not walk away. He stays with us every step of the way………….He carries us.
Yes, I am seeing, Jesus is in all ways tempted like as we are. (Hebrews 4:15) He does feel our weaknesses. It is okay to be frustrated! It is how I handle it that will make a difference in my life and the lives of those I intersect with as I walk through life.
Leona Lewis singing Footprints in the Sand
When I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night; for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:6-8 Matt Chandler writes in his book, To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain, “David and the other biblical figures who wrote and spoke this way were not pursuing experiences—they were pursuing God.” This is the cry of their heart. This does not frustrate our Father. (emphasis mine)
Live Like You’re Loved
Hawk Nelson
Treading in His Pursuit
Yvonne Jones
