Frustration is the experience of having your dreams thwarted. That which you have been longing for is now out of reach. Someone pulls the plug on the vision. Something prevents you from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire. Hope is shattered. The result may be that you are left baffled and discouraged.

Frustration is a form of anger. Anger is an emotional response to a perceived injustice. It is not sin in itself but can easily lead to sin if it is not handled in the right way. Frustration, if it is not dealt with properly, can sabotage your future and sour your personality. The enemy of your soul knows he can set up camp and claim your unresolved anger as his territory. "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." (Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV).

King David had a desire to build a temple for the Lord. At first Nathan, the prophet, encourages him "to do all that is in his mind, for the Lord is with him" (2Samuel 7:3). It seemed that the Lord was giving him the green light. He had placed before him an open door. Suddenly the door is slammed in his face. David's plans are thrown into disarray. The Lord tells him that he will NOT be the one to build the temple. In fact he would not be around to see it. After his death, his son would be the one to build the house for the Lord (2Samuel 7:12-13).

This must have been a great disappointment for David. How did he handle this?

First, he accepted it. He did not fight reality. He acknowledged the set-back, though it must have pained him. He took stock of what truly was in line with God's purpose and what was not. He discerned and rediscovered the God-given core of his dream and resolved that he would only do God's work, God's way and in God's time.

Secondly, he refocused. He sought ways in which he could still participate in the God-given core of his dream. Our plans may be altered, but the goal remains. David decided that he would spend the rest of his life gathering the resources and facilitating the accomplishment of the dream of building the temple. He would equip other builders. He would still be an active partner in the work of God, but in a different way than he originally planned.

Thirdly, he recommitted himself to serve God with fresh vision. Solomon, David's son will build the temple after David's death. He builds the temple on Mount Moriah, where many centuries earlier according to the revealed will of God, Abraham obediently brought his son, Isaac, to be an offered in worship (2Chronicles 3:1; Genesis 22). There was a change of plans, however. There, on the site of the future temple, Abraham was told that the Lord Himself would provide the sacrifice He required - His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

God's change of plans often leads to a greater revelation of His perfect Wisdom. God's plans were for a greater spiritual house than what David could conceive. It would be built by one greater than Solomon. The New Testament tells us that we are that temple of God, built by Christ, if we choose to participate in His plan.

Hudson Armerding told the story of how he and his wife prepared for service with the China Inland Mission. The scholar was on the top of the scale of the traditional Chinese social system. Their vision therefore was to reach students in China and thereby influence leaders who would reach many others for Christ. When they finally finished all of their training for this work in 1948, the door to China closed and the State Department refused to grant visas because of the hazardous conditions. They obviously felt frustrated. Armerding expressed his dilemma to an older missionary. In response he was asked, "Are you prepared to do the will of God whatever it may be? Are you willing to submit to the mind of the Lord so that He might show you His will?" He answered in the affirmative. "What opportunities are open to you?" Armerding realized that there was an opening to reach students in colleges in the United States. It was then that Armerding realized that the core of his calling was to reach students for Christ, wherever He can, and that VOCATION is not confined to our preconceived ideas about LOCATION.

Changes in plans need not frustrate us. They can actually free us to make new discoveries about the will of God and our potential to joyfully participate in it.  Press on towards the mark - the true goal - with renewed vision.

David MacAdam, Pastor/Teacher
New Life Community Church