Enduring Frustration

by David Rollert

Some days just don’t go your way. Maybe you don’t sleep well, so you start the day tired. Everyone in the family seems to be extra annoying. You burn breakfast. Your car will not start. Traffic is heavy. Someone insults you. Your kid gets in trouble at school. That difficult coworker will not leave you alone. A customer loses their temper at you. Whatever it may be. The day is simply FRUSTRATING!

In situations like that, many people would lose their cool, letting their temper get the best of them. They say or do something they later regret. We all know that losing our temper is not the right path. But in the moment, it would feel so satisfying! Satisfying or not, is it wise to let our frustration control us? To answer that question, let’s see what the Proverbs have to say on this topic.

Understanding helps us endure frustration: Proverbs 14:29 states, “He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.” Why does the one who is slow to anger have great understanding? Partly because understanding helps us control our anger. When we understand ourselves, how our body and mind react to frustration, along with what frustrates us, then we can more easily control that frustration. Similarly, when we understand those around us, why they are acting the way they are, then we can more easily extend forgiveness and be patient with them.

Seeking the godly victory helps us endure frustration: We may sometimes think that fully venting our frustration to everyone around us would somehow feel like victory. But anyone who has given in to that feeling knows that it does not bring about Godly results. Instead, we need to look to a different type of victory. Proverbs 19:11 tells us, “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression.” Here we are told that wise glory, or victory, is to overlook a transgression. So, you want to have true victory in a frustrating situation? Learn to look past what annoys you so that you can get to the root of the issue and address it properly.

Endurance (Patience) is better than physical might: Pride gets in the way of patience. Pride makes us take offense at minor slights. Pride makes us lose our cool at minor inconveniences. Proverbs 16:32 says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” Learn to rule yourself, and you will be far better off than one who is ruled by pride.