Are You Frustrated?

Who hasn’t ever been frustrated?

Frustration is one of the leading causes of loss of intimacy and closeness in a relationship.

Some of us are a little more easily frustrated than others but we all experience it at some level.

Where you have human beings interacting with one another...you will have frustration at times.

We are all created uniquely different and due to those differences we will not...

Agree about everything

Handle situations in the same way
Deal with stress in the same way
Feel the same emotions
Understand one another completely

Our human nature is to be self-centered.

We always want to be right and we always want people to meet our expectations or desires.

Having these expectations just sets us up for disappointment.

Once frustration creeps in...we begin to withdraw emotionally from our friend, family member, or spouse.

How do we deal with this frustration?

The first step is prayer.

Sometimes that’s enough but when it’s not...

You have to make sure that you communicate your frustration in the best possible way and at the best time.

You may not get the response you desire.

Your expression of frustration may be received as an attack or criticism.

This is a normal response.

Who likes to have their short-comings or faults pointed out to them?

Don’t let this prevent you from communicating your feelings.

Keeping your feelings bottled up only serves to increase your frustration and create even more division in your relationship.

Once someone has had time to really think about what you have expressed to them...they may realize that there IS a problem that needs to be dealt with.

Hopefully they will respect you for bringing it to their attention.

You both have to be willing to work together to alleviate the frustration and take the steps necessary to restore your relationship.

You also need to be willing to accept the fact that your frustration may be unwarranted.

Maybe your views are not the only way to look at things.

Maybe you just need to chill.

Is it really worth getting upset about?

What is most important in your relationship?

Being married for almost 10 years...my husband and I have learned that sometimes you just have to “deal with it”.

Maybe those dirty clothes on the floor aren’t worth the frustration that rises up within you.

We cannot allow frustration to drive a wedge between us.

Communication and prayer is the best way to combat the effects of frustration.

“Nip it in the bud!!”

Don’t let it fester until it becomes something much bigger than it originally was.

Frustration is an ugly monster that can become angrier if it's not dealt with.

Don't let this angry monster control your life and your relationships.

Don't let frustration turn into bitterness and unforgiveness.

This also applies to the frustration you may be causing someone else.

Be the person God has called you to be and take the necessary steps to alleviate their frustration.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” – Luke 6:31

Be sensitive to the needs of others.

What about when we are frustrated with God?

Are things not working out like you had expected or hoped?

Is God taking too long to fulfill His promises?

Does it seem like one bad thing after the other keeps happening?

Do you trust God but you wish he would handle things a little differently?

These are things that can cause us to distance ourselves from God.

We might have the attitude...what’s the point in even trying? It doesn’t do any good.

We have probably all felt these feelings at one time or another...and maybe even right now.

My advice to you is...DON’T GIVE UP and don’t pull away from God.

That’s exactly what the devil wants you to do at these times.

Reach out for support from friends, family, your spouse, and God.

You don’t have to go through this life alone!!
 

Making sure that we create and maintain intimacy and closeness in our relationships will make our journey more fulfilling and a lot less stressful.

Life can even be enjoyable...go figure!!  :)