There is a lot of frustration in the world today. We are living in a global pandemic; a virus has caused a great deal of fear and death. The economy is simply messed up, record numbers of people are without a job, schools have been canceled, graduations won’t happen, camps and sports aren’t happening, the library is no longer part of our normal life, working from home can be taxing and overwhelming, vacations have been canceled and it all just…you know…it stinks. No one enjoys frustration, but if we believe the Scriptures, and we should, then we know this virus is not a random event and our frustrations aren’t the result of some cosmic roll of the dice….
“The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.”
- Psalm 33:10
But why? Why does God do that? Why is work harder now? Why are your summer beach plans and pool days and seemingly everything else frustrated?
Is it judgement? I don’t know.
Is it akin to the Tower of Babel? I don’t know.
Is it to redirect our dependence to the Lord? I don’t know.
I don’t know the specifics of what God is doing and neither does anyone else outside of the Trinity.
But I do know that “for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
You know that too… intellectually. Now is the time to know it on a deeper level, to truly believe this truth in your heart so that you can start looking at the little details of your life, start looking for how God is working this for good. Maybe in your relationship with God, maybe in redeemed time with your children or spouse or a friend or just an evening walk in creation cause the 15 car train of Zoom meetings has passed for the day and you have no place else you have to be. Start looking. You will be surprised at what you find to be thankful for.
Be frustrated, that’s a real emotion. But start moving beyond the frustration to see how the One who has frustrated your plans would have you flourish and glorify Him as you pick up the pieces of a frustrated life and build something new that honors the Creator and Sustainer of all things.