Page 81 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 3

Living simple: Overcoming Frustration the hand of God. It’s a life devoid
of selfish aspirations, devoid of
BY: SAMUEL PHILLIPS goals that are detrimental to truth.
frustration started. It’s a life that sees and receives
The Lord asked, “Why are you the mind of God as the only mind
We live in a world that is very frustrated?” No answer came to resort to for choices, decisions
daring and quite unapologetically to mind at first, so the teaching and plans. Meaning it’s a heart that
frustrating. From the frustration continued. The Holy Spirit started knows that there was a plan from
that comes from dreams not being painting a picture in my heart about before creation and which each
fulfilled, to plans not going the how frustration happens to us. He man has been called to live out
way they are expected to go and made a distinct difference between within the space of their journey on
the many other things that plague when I first came to the beach the earth. Life is not random, nor is
each day of a man’s life on earth. walking on the loose sand, without it unplanned by God. We just have
For lack of words to use, frustration being frustrated, and how walking a world full of those who think God
can be really frustrating, especially on the same loose sand this is dead and thus their lives belong
when almost all the time one can’t second time made me frustrated. to them.
seem to fight his way through it or He put it this way. ‘When there is
away from it. However, I believe no corresponding match between Overcoming frustration
God has a word for someone and the mental picture in our minds The following are not necessarily
everyone who is going through and the actions on the outside, the only things we need to know
frustrating moments. and time is ticking, it creates about dealing with frustration,
frustration.’ Meaning, it was easy but they can give us a start. To
How frustration happens to walk on that loose sand when overcome frustration, one should
Almost everything I write comes there was no rain coming without consider doing these few things:
from the learning I get when I go feeling frustrated because I had all 1. Live totally connected to that
for my early morning walk or jog. the time I needed to use, but the which is beyond life in the physical
On this particular morning, I went moment the time factor came into and which only a walk of faith can
to walk on the beach. The tide the equation, by the way of the rain give. See beyond this world and
was out so the sand was a lot that was coming, frustration set live beyond its borders of time.
and was very loose. Walking was in. The real physical action of me 2. Give the control of your life to
not so easy because of the loose running slowly on the loose sand the One who made you and who
sand. I walked down to the end of didn’t match the mental picture of knows what He intended for you
the beach and sat watching the me running fast. before you were made. That men
vast sea as far as my eyes could This explanation made practical choose to be godless doesn’t
possibly see. After a while, the sense to me. I began to understand make God ungodly.
cloud started to change. It was clearly that oftentimes we get 3. Remember to respond in love to
going to rain. Initially I thought frustrated when we set goals and situations and not react to them.
it was just a passing cloud. But aspirations for ourselves or others, 4. Renew your mind about
obviously it was not, because from and when they don’t go the way expectations, either by way of
where I was seated, I could see we want or think they should go, what you expect of yourself or
the cloud in the distance above we lash out in frustration and get what others expect of you.
the sea and the rain had already depressed. Especially when time 5. Know that to make mistakes is
started there. doesn’t stop to say, “How are you ok and to accept correction is not
Where I was seated didn’t have doing today?” demeaning.
much covering, so I would 6. Know that your life is God’s plan
either have to make my way to Expectation, Time and and He knows what your journey
somewhere with some shelter or Frustration should be.
run home before the rain caught Sometime ago, I saw this writing 7. Live simply and also love
up with me. I decided to do the on a wall which says “life is a simplicity. Life is full of dead
latter. I started running. journey, plan for it”. That made weights which men call luxury.
I was bent on running home, natural sense but to my spiritual You, just simply journey His plan.
but the loose sand of the beach mind it didn’t. Instantly, what came Of what use is life without God
prevented me from running fast to me was “Life is His plan, journey and of luxury when it will be laid
enough. The more I put effort it.” The difference between the two down some day anyway? For the
in to run, the more I was slowed statements I am sure is as clear moment a man drops dead, such
down by that loose sand. I was as day light. One is a life lived by becomes another dead weight
getting frustrated and tired. The plans and aspirations with lots of called CORPSE.
rain caught up with me, so I had goal setting, but which may not be
to branch off to a nearby shelter. It connected to the mind of God for a Think about it.
was then that the teachings about man. The other is a life lived from