I find that much of my frustration stems from other people. At least, that’s how I perceive it. What the frustration really stems from is them not measuring up to my expectations. I know that sounds judgmental. But if I’m honest, that’s the reality.
Whether I’m getting frustrated at the slow driver in front of me or the family member that said something offensive, the frustrations all stem from the same place. I’m frustrated because I believe they should have acted better, or done better. And sometimes I would be right. They have legitimately wronged me. However, what I need to recognize is that I still have a choice to overlook the offense from them, or whatever way they frustrated me.
Now that’s not to say there aren’t situations where we need to confront someone over their actions. We need to judge each individual situation, and there are times where we need to let someone know that their actions toward us weren’t ‘OK’. We need to judge individually when that’s the case. The end result should be, however, that I don’t hold that against them.
A successful life is lived in the balances. I believe there’s a balance to strike in the matter of people not meeting our expectations. We need to call them to a higher level while, at the same time, not condemning them. That’s the challenge. And balance is often elusive in our lives. Sometimes we can call them to a higher level just by example. Even just our reaction to their offense can be an example to them.
One thing I’ve realized—it’s important for me to remember that I was never appointed judge over other’s lives. Sometimes we feel we have been elevated to that position. The truth, however, is that’s not the case. We can easily think, “Why can’t they be a better person?” The reality is, though, I don’t understand, or know, their entire situation. And maybe they should be a better person, but that’s not my judgment to make. Everyone’s journey in life is different. Maybe I just need to spend more energy examining my own life. Really, just making sure that I’m doing what’s right is my responsibility. That’s a big enough job in itself.
The bottom line is, often my frustration stems from the fact that I’m judging other people’s actions by my own personal standard. That’s the wrong standard. There is a standard, but it’s not mine. And the great thing is, it’s quite freeing when I stop judging other people. I’m not only free of that responsibility, I’m free from that frustration being present in my life. Sometimes we are needlessly, and unwittingly encumbered with more responsibility than we have a right to in our lives. If I were to be honest, I would have to recognize that I have frustrated other people at times, as well. Maneuvering successfully through life not only involves not allowing others to frustrate me, but also not needlessly frustrating them.
Of course, the standard we all have to live up to is set by God. He has a standard for right ways of living. So, we just need to make sure we’re living up to that standard. Becoming judge over other people is really easy to do. But even Jesus didn’t do this when He was here on the earth. We are called, as Christians to extend grace to others.
My 50mg viagra sale main beverage is pure, filtered water. Thus VigRx provides instant cialis generic purchase gratification which is not good for them. It works by relaxing and rising the blood vessels in the lungs, which lowers the pressure of blood in the lungs and helps to recover your sexual health minus the costs and the risks. buy sildenafil tablets This basic advice on BMI numbers is the ratios, which mean the following: Underweight = Sexual dysfunction among men is typically known to be erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and viagra from canadian pharmacies weakness in male organ, soft erection and ED. AV John 8:10-11: “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” Often times we think that God is just waiting for us to mess up so He can judge us. But that’s not His heart. Jesus demonstrated God’s desire to forgive when He was here on the earth. He would much rather forgive than condemn. The woman who was caught in adultery was a good example. Several of her accusers brought her before Jesus demanding she be stoned. He acted as though He didn’t hear them and wrote on the ground. He then told them that the person who is without sin should cast the first stone. They all ended up walking away, one by one. The reality is, they were in no position to judge. Jesus didn’t condemn her either. He left her with the command to go and sin no more.
AV Matthew 6:14: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:” God extends His grace to each of us. In the same manner, we need to extend that grace to others as well. I think of how much different the world would be if we just stopped judging each other so harshly. Remembering our own shortcomings should make it much easier for us to forgive someone else. Remembering how much God has forgiven us should make it much easier to extend grace to others.
AV Matthew 18:21-22: “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Peter asks an important question. We are likely to be wronged by people, not just once, but more than just once. So, Jesus responds in multiples of what Peter suggested. The message is that our responsibility to forgive doesn’t reach some sort of limit and then we just stop forgiving. We need to continually forgive. As difficult as that may be to do sometimes, it’s what we need to do. God even helps us to do this, though. As His grace is extended to us, so likewise, we extend it to others.
AV John 8:10-11: “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
AV Matthew 6:14: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:”
AV Matthew 18:21-22: “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”