frustration

After spending last week sick with Bronchitis, I reached about Thursday morning and had met an all new level of frustration in my life. I was in the shower, crying out to God, with a heart not settled, and a mind unsatisfied. I realized that I was in a place that I felt I was losing control over so many areas and I hated the helpless feeling I was feeling. (Okay, so do I really have any “control” anyways?)

• I was frustrated by the lack of cleanliness of my home – laundry not caught up. Laundry never caught up! Toys strewn across the floor of most rooms. Surfaces and corners that could use a good scrubbing. Argh!
• I was frustrated by my attitude I had lately with my children. Rather than getting patient and calm mommy, they were getting impatient, irritable, short mommy. Didn’t like that. I found myself saying no so often throughout the day without any reason why my answer was no to them. I made mountains out of mole hills and forgot to pick and choose my battles. Ick.
• As if those two areas weren’t enough to be frustrated about, I was frustrated with my attitude towards my husband. Indifference, irritability, and selfishness were traits I was exhibiting rather than love, concern, and patience.
• I was frustrated by my body. Sure I’m pre-3-baby-pregnancy weight minus a pound or two more, but how fit am I? My clothes are tighter and things have definitely moved around. How does that happen?! I don’t like what I see in the mirror, but I also don’t do anything about it. I’m a relatively healthy eater, but I can never seem to find time or energy in my day to exercise. At one point I was working out 4 days a week and felt and looked great. But that was a season ago, one less kid, and a few less responsibilities. Ugh.

As I looked further, I realized that at the heart of everything I was frustrated with were my lack of time with God and my lack of time in His word. As I’ve thought on that a few days, I’ve come to realize that when I feel the most frustrated in my life, it’s because I’ve lost sight of my priorities, gotten disorganized, and aren’t living in His grace. This is both refreshing and overwhelming. Refreshing because okay, that sounds like a plan. We can work through this with a plan! But overwhelming at the same time because where do I start at getting back on track? What things are most important? How do I reconcile the important ones with the ones that gotta-get-done?

(1) I need to realize I can’t get it all done. And that’s OKAY. Some days some things will take priority and some days it will be others.

(2) Prioritize. Make lists. To-dos. Get organized. I work so much better this way. I need to purge some things in my life that take time away from the things I need to be doing. But at the same time I need to balancing work with fun and rest.

(3) Stay focused on God’s word and scripture. A sure way to encourage me and remind me daily of His power to get it done.

Finding a balance can be so difficult. Usually the times are simply seasons and we must adjust and transition to the next but, do you ever feel this way friends? What things have you found helpful in not becoming frustrated?