Ep 9 - Frustrations and the Devil's footholds

"Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Do everything in love.."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 ESV

Chapters

• 3:38 Follow Up - Application updates from areas for growth in Session 6
• 15:30 Follow up on Session 8 - Praying with your Spouse
• 22:10 Frustrations & Disappointment - examples from our lives
• 33:23 Roots... "ITS ABOUT ME" ....anger about my time, my rights, my plan
• 35:22 Principles and stories from God's Word about this
• 47:58 SUMMARY - Steps to Take

Transcript

In our ninth episode we explored the impact of Frustration, Disappointment and “small” things can have on us emotionally.  How we react to these impact those around us – our spouse, our kids, and our co-workers. We explored some examples and insights from God's Word to think about how to remain relational and endure hardship well.

Instead of sharing Quiet Times from the Word, this week each of us shared how we were doing in the Areas of Growth we had each identified for ourselves in session six.  

Richard also reflected that the definition of a man we have been discussing from the book, The Intentional Father –

A man is an image bearer and son of God entrusted with the power and responsibility to create, cultivate, care and defend for God’s glory and the good of others

Is true regardless of whether you have a relationship with God or not. If you do not have a relationship with God, please reach out to us. Having a relationship with God is the foundation and ultimate goal and prayer we have for everyone listening.

If you have input, feedback, or other things to request, please send us an email at:
 checkpoint@hillcrestcrc.com

Frustration, disappointments: As in introduction we shared some of the things that can generate frustration or disappointments for us personally.

The source of our emotions at this time is anger. If we are honest, it can be “about me” – we are upset, disappointed, frustrated about a change or infringement on my rights, my time, my plan. The root is from the selfishness we have in our sinful nature.

God says in may places, “Don’t be discouraged, I am with you.”  God has an eternal plan. He loves us and His plan is moving forward. We need to keep these disappointments in perspective.

A useful book on this topic is RARE Leadership: 4 Uncommon Habits for Increasing Trust, Joy and Engagement in the People You Lead by Marcus Warner and Jim Wilder

   R – Remain Relational

   A – Act Like Yourself

   R – Return to Joy

   E – Endure Hardship Well

Remaining relational means keeping the relationship bigger than the problem. Don’t get so focused on the ‘problem’ that you damage the relationship.  God is relational, he values relationships. As men made in his image, we too need to value relationships as well. 

Christ was fully human, he experienced disappointments. Often, we are the ones who have offended him. We have in Him the example of how to respond when facing disappointments.

Some stories of disappointment in the Bible…  Jesus’s disciples disappointed that Jesus was dying and leaving; Jonah was disappointed when Ninevah repented and God forgave them, Job was disappointed when so much of his life was taken away; Solomon found disappointment in all things (meaningless) apart from seeking God, Moses disappointed by the people’s thirst for water. Christ asked the disciples to pray – and they did not.

Proverbs 18:21 “the tongue has the power over life and death.” 

Too often, our feelings can and do overflow into how we speak. We need to be careful not to tear down or degrade others, but to build them up. Look for your ‘markers’ that reveal a change of heart, a rising of anger – stop and ask for the Lord to help you in your behaviour.

Ephesians 4:26-27 “in your anger, do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

FINAL THOGUHTS:

Steps to take -

1-    Identify your emotions

2-    Realize why (you are upset or disappointed or other emotion)

3-    Reset your mind

4-    Talk with God

 Bottom Line
Our hope is that this encourages you to think about the areas of being a godly man we have been discussing on this podcast where God wants YOU to grow.
 
The purpose of our podcast is to help each other be better leaders, husbands and fathers for God's glory. Our discussions are based on elements from the Men's Ministry at Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church in Hudsonville, MI. For more information about us, check our website and hillcrestcrc.org.