Dealing with frustration in your faith
There are seasons when following God feels beautiful. And then there are seasons when it feels frustrating. You’ve prayed. You’ve waited. You’ve tried to be faithful. You’ve trusted God when you didn’t understand. But nothing seems to be changing. Maybe you thought the door would have opened by now. Maybe you thought the prayer would have been answered by now. Maybe you believed that if you were faithful, things would eventually get easier. Instead, you find yourself saying: “Lord, I don’t understand what You’re doing.” And sometimes, if we’re willing to admit it, the feeling underneath those words is: “Lord, I’m frustrated with You.”
God Can Handle Your Frustration
We sometimes think faith means pretending everything is okay. But read the Psalms. David asked: “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?” — Psalm 13:1 That isn’t polished Christianity. That is a hurting man talking honestly with God. David wasn’t abandoning God. He was bringing his disappointment to God. There is a difference. Frustration becomes dangerous when it causes us to run from God. But frustration can actually deepen our relationship with Him when we bring it to God. You can tell Him:“Lord, I’m tired.” “Lord, I don’t understand.” “Lord, I thought You would have moved by now.” “Lord, I’m struggling to trust You in this.” God already knows what is happening in your heart. Prayer simply invites Him into it.
Sometimes the Hardest Part Is the Silence
I think I could handle some seasons better if God would just explain Himself. Why this? Why now? Why hasn’t this changed? Why are You allowing this to continue?But often God doesn’t give us an explanation. He gives us His presence. Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us that His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are higher than ours. That doesn’t make the waiting painless. But it reminds us that just because I cannot see what God is doing does not mean God is doing nothing. There are things God may be developing in us that could never be produced through comfort. Patience. Dependence. Humility. Endurance. Compassion. Faith. Sometimes I’m asking God to change my circumstances while God is using my circumstances to change me.
Faith Doesn’t Mean You Aren’t Frustrated
Faith means you keep trusting God while you are frustrated. You can be disappointed and still believe. You can have questions and still worship. You can cry and still trust. You can say, “Lord, I don’t understand You right now,” and still say, “But I’m not leaving.” That is faith. Habakkuk reached a place where everything around him looked wrong, yet he declared:“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” — Habakkuk 3:18 Notice the word: Yet.Things aren’t what I hoped they would be. Yet.I don’t understand what God is doing. Yet.The answer hasn’t come. Yet.I will trust Him.
Maybe This Is a “Yet” Season
Maybe you’re living in the space between what you prayed and what God will eventually do. That space can be incredibly frustrating. But don’t confuse God’s silence with God’s absence. Don’t confuse God’s delay with God’s neglect. And don’t let what you don’t understand about God erase everything you already know about God. He is faithful. He is present. He sees you. He hasn’t forgotten you. So if you’re frustrated with the Lord today, talk to Him. Don’t clean it up. Don’t pretend. Bring Him the disappointment, confusion, anger, questions, and exhaustion. And when you’ve said everything you need to say, maybe your prayer becomes very simple: “Lord, I don’t understand this season. I don’t like this season. I wouldn’t have chosen this season. But I still choose You.” Sometimes that is one of the deepest expressions of faith we can offer. I don’t understand You right now, Lord—but I’m still holding onto You.