What About…Frustrations?

By Dr. Jed Snyder, President, Jesus Every Day Ministries, Inc.

Did Jesus Christ, Lord of heaven and earth, creator, Savior, King ever get frustrated?  I suppose one might argue that the answer is “no.”  But these two verses certainly have the “feel” of frustration.

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”  Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip?  Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.  How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  John 14:8-9

And what do you understand of the following statements?  These were outside the tomb of his good friend Lazarus.  Was Jesus weeping because his followers were so slow to grasp who he is and why he was there with them?

And he said, “Where have you laid him?”  They said to him, “Lord, come and see.  Jesus wept.  So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”  But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”  

John 11:34-37

I wonder at my own limited understanding.  I wonder if I frustrate my Lord.  I certainly get frustrated because of the slowness of heart of others.  How can anyone look up into a starlit night and not bow in humble adoration?  How can anyone caress the tiny fingers, toes, face of a newborn, and not give praise to the Creator?  How can we hide our spiritual lights “under a basket?”

Maybe our frustrations should be self-directed rather than being frustrated at all of those who so blindly pass us by daily.  God is patient, waiting for an invitation to come in, and fellowship with each one of us.

Happy overcoming those frustrations.