Do you ever find yourself getting frustrated? How often do we get frustrated with situations, our spouses or even with church people? Life can be full of frustrations, but if we will look at those things as “God Moments” of where he is trying to stretch us and teach us something, then the frustration can become fascination. I would like to share another blog from Patti Johnson on this subject.
Sometimes there comes along a seemingly insignificant experience that produces an epic truth to carry from it. About a decade ago, I was leading a team for my job, a task at hand that needed to be carried out by specific instruction under my direction. The group I was leading was rather independent of following instruction and in a word went “rogue” on me. They decided to carry out the directions in their own style and process. As I looked on at the train wreck that I saw coming, I sought the input of another employee who I knew had more years of experience that I in leading teams. He encouraged me to keep watching and be prepared for the time when they would realize they need help. He said “Until they are ready to be led, you cannot lead them”. That brought me to a feeling of frustration. But I heeded his advice and I patiently watched and waited. Right at the point where I was about to witness the train going off the track, the group came to me and said “I guess we need your help”. That was the moment that my frustration turned to fascination. People are fascinating if you can remove the frustration from your emotions. At that moment, with the guidance of one wiser than me and with more experience at being fascinated rather than frustrated, that seemingly insignificant experience produced an epic truth for me that day.
Being fascinated rather than frustrated with circumstances and people produces a wonder and even excitement at the intersection of the two.
Ministry can be that way. Working with processes and people with the intention of producing something can lend itself to being frustrated. People tend to go “rogue” at the drop of a hat when they sense you are trying to lead them. If you can step back and watch and wait for them to realize that you desire to lead them for their own good and for the benefit of a greater cause outside of themselves or even yourself, then it turns into a lesson of fascination rather than frustration.
The key here is patience and confidence in your instructions and instructor. To have God’s Word as our instruction and God as our instructor is paramount in leading people.
I knew that my instructions were right and that my instructor was valid. I just had to add in patience and wait for the right time when they were ready to receive.
As pastors’ wives we may not have the structured role of leader, but we do have the right instructions and instructor through God’s Word and through our personal relationship through Jesus Christ. God has placed us in this role by our husband’s calling and we need to be confident that He has prepared us to lead as well.
So while those around us seem to be going “rogue” and following in their own way, wait patiently for the signs that they are ready to be led, through the sharing of God’s Truth, through our own personal testimonies of God’s guidance in your life, through the struggles and stresses of life, through the faithful obedience and spiritual successes that mark our journey.
Turn Frustration into Fascination and God will show you how unique our calling is in ministering to people for their good and His glory.
Praying this will minister to your heart and you will look for those frustrations to turn into fascinations!
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