Frustrating or Refining

Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20

The other day I had a beautiful time of understanding from God. It was one of those moments when my ears were ready to listen and my heart was ready to receive.

I was reviewing my week and had listed several situations that had caused frustration in the hopes of writing them out to get them off my chest. Those writing moments often allow me to see the bigger picture and quite frequently, I see that I do the same things that cause me to be frustrated with others. In those revelation moments, I almost always need to repent for my thoughts and actions.

As I wrote, “It was so frustrating,” in my journal I felt the Holy Spirit ask me, “Was it frustrating or was it refining?” “It will be whichever one you choose to make it.”

I had to think about that for a while before I went back over my list and saw those same situations through God’s eyes of refining. Those moments were teaching me to listen first, watch my words, and keep my anger in check. They were opportunities to see the flaws in my own actions rather than only pointing out the shortcomings of others.

Frustrating moments are opportunities to surrender to God’s refining in my life. If I look at them that way, I find that I respond differently. I don’t see them as people being rude, selfish, or provoking, but rather as God, loving me enough to give me lots of practice to make my character more like His.

I sincerely pray that when the next frustrating moment arrives, I will stop and ask myself, “Is it really frustrating or is it God’s refining?”, and then adjust my response to one that would honor Him.

Thank you, Lord, for Your all-encompassing love. Give me eyes to see circumstances the way You do so that I will make the most of them and become more and more like You. In Jesus’ name, amen.