WEAKNESS, FAILURE, FRUSTRATION, AND DESPAIR

 


Many are sold-out for Jesus, but we despair over our weakness and failure to overcome our fleshly afflictions (Romans 7:24-25; Galatians 5:17).  Consequently, we wonder, “What is wrong?” and despair even of our trust in our Savior.

However, Jesus assures us that this struggle is normal for the Christian, even blessed:

•    Matthew 5:3–6 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Our frustrations and despair with ourselves is the process of dying to the self and living for God. This leads us to prayer, thanksgiving, and rejoicing! In what? That we can no longer trust in ourselves but to Christ alone, our only hope:

•    1 Corinthians 1:28–31 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Why then do we hope and boast in Jesus? Because He is our only hope and the One who loves us. Consequently, we want to be like Him and to devote ourselves fully to Him, but how? We need to adopt a new way of thinking, through which we see that our brokenness, disdained by the world, but is beautiful before God:

•    Psalm 34:18–19 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

The marines might be looking for “a few good men,” but the Lord esteems the broken-hearted and draws close to us:

•    Psalm 51:16–17 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Our offering to God is our neediness and self-despair. Since this is the last thing that we want surrender, our Lord has to nurture neediness within us:

•    2 Corinthians 4:7–11 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

If we want to be like Jesus, we are coerced to trust in Him through our suffering and self-despair. We are forced to walk on the water as He had, terrified with each step. We are required to give up what is most valuable to us, as Abraham was required to sacrifice Isaac and as the Father sacrificially sacrificed His beloved Son.

However, we cannot do this on our own. Even the Apostle Paul required God’s help. Because of the many revelations he had received, pride stood knocking at his door. To drive pride away, God allowed Satan to afflict Paul with a “thorn in the flesh.” It must have been painful or even life-controlling. Therefore, Paul petitioned God repeatedly to take it away. However, God answered:

•    2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul would have to accept his weaknesses and afflictions so that the power of God would rest upon Him. We also must do this and even boast about our failures and insecurities, blessings in disguise!

 

WHAT DO I DO…

when I see the portrait of Ex-Pres. Obama commanding center-stage above his mantel, and my rage demands angry words…

when I know that my Black brother adores him as a Saint, while I cannot…

when he is convinced that I must be a racist, and I think the same about him…

when words of reconciliation flee away taking trust by the hand in its flight…

when we find we live in different worlds, he fed on the knees of CNN and I on FOX…

when mutual discomfort seems to be our only remaining glue?

What has happened to our common meals?

Did we not know what we were eating?

Should I remove his name from my address book and spit him out of my mouth?

Where is our common language, the verbs, nouns, and adjectives that had been our nourishment?

Why can we now only share discomfort, mutual suspicion, and moldy bread?

He wants from me the very thing that I cannot give him – agreement.

I cannot tell him I like salmon, when it nauseates me.

I cannot laugh at what he laughs at and cry when he cries.

But there is something greater here – Jesus our Lord.

I cannot see through the fog, but He can.

I cannot change my feelings, but He has created and sustains this world.

I cannot find hope, but He is Hope Himself.

I do not have the answer, but Answer is His Name.
I have exchanged flight for courage, but He counsels trust and patience.

·       Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8)

Frustration and Inadequacy

Frustration is not simply the result of failing to accomplish a task. It is also a product of our expectations. If we expect that we have what it takes to accomplish a task, we will be frustrated and feel inadequate when we fail. We might also become angry with those who refuse to comply with our plan.

Our expectations also involve others, society, and government. When they fail to meet our expectations, we might also feel helpless, inadequate, overwhelmed, frustrated and angry. However, we do not live in a just world. We live in a world where everyone is pursuing their own interests, and these are often contrary to our own.

How are we to live with these frustrations? Firstly, we have to recognize how limited and small we are. We can barely change ourselves, let alone those around us. In fact, Jesus informed His disciples that “without me, you can do nothing.” Surprisingly, He confessed, “The Son can do nothing by himself” (John 5:19). Paul confessed that, although God had given him a great ministry, he was inadequate:

• Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God. (2 Corinthians 3:5; ESV) 

This understanding didn’t come naturally to Paul. He had to come to a point of self-despair before he could truly trust in God (2 Cor. 1:8-9). This is a lesson I need to relearn a thousand times. The Lord is showing me that I cannot trust in my intellect, teachings, or writings to change anyone. The more I do, the more conflict I experience.

How do we cope with our inadequate lives and this increasingly menacing world? Only by keeping our eyes on our Savior! The Psalmist wisely wrote:

• Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:1-7) 

This is not a resignation to failure and evil. Instead, it is a recognition that we need our Lord’s help every step of the way! He alone is our hope!