Frustration

Frustration. Feeling anger crawling up your veins and mixing with disappointment. Frustration. Pleasant thoughts fading and being replaced by annoyance. Frustration. Future regretted words slipping out of your mouth. Frustration. Holding your fists tightly and realizing how close you are to what you want. Frustration.

Today after school I was late to the bus area (yes, I'm a junior riding the bus..) and the buses were about to leave. Stressed about school, I just wanted to get home quickly and relax. So swiftly walking past the doors I approached my bus and its open doors. Then all of a sudden a teacher stood in my way and told me it was too late to get on the bus. I stared, dumbfounded, between him and my 3-yard away bus. Clearly feeling the illogicality of the situation, I calmly and collectively said, "But my bus is RIGHT THERE and the doors are STILL OPEN." He shook his head and never let me get on that bus. All huffy and puffy, I stormed off and called my mom to come pick me up. I thought about him when I waited for Mom. I thought about the situation when I was on the way home. I edited certain actions out and in when I ate my lunch. I just kept on replaying the scene and feeling my anger grow steadily. Small situation, right?

Many times we let the small things get the better of us. One of the last things Jesus tells his disciples in John 14:27 was, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." The peace Christ leaves for us isn't temporary happiness. He gave us a peace that transcends all understanding. He gave us the peace that he had when he was crucified and left to die on the cross. The peace that was with him when he conquered pain, agony, and death is what he has given us. There are many times when frustration tries to creep up on us and pounce on our Christ-granted peace. How many of those times do we walk away in peace? How many times do we walk away fists clenched and curses sitting on our lips?

Dealing with situations that don't go the way we planned them to are difficult struggles. Sometimes we get angry because everything seemed to be going along perfectly when BAM--a curve ball is thrown that disorientates us and our emotions. It's so easy to blow up, reduce to a 3-year-old, and throw a temper tantrum. It's always harder to "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 and know He'll take care of the situation. Always remember that in the end, something greater will spawn from that once "frustrating" situation. Take my account of today for example. Had I not been though that entire situation, I wouldn't be here writing a blog and sharing the importance of peace with you all. God created us in his image. He is the Prince of Peace. In the same way, we are called to be princes and princesses of peace and love. God bless :]