He Gives Peace for Frustration

When I started preparing for this sermon I thought, “Oh no, Lord please don’t put something in my life this week that will provide a sermon illustration about frustration! I’m working hard to avoid frustrations!”

Fast forward to Wednesday morning:

Phone call from TCEQ compliance

Dental appointment with $740 bill

Preschool teacher turns in a 2-week notice

…and more HELP!

Christmas time itself brings its own unique frustrations, but I remember the Apostle Paul who wrote in Hebrews:

Hebrews 12:1 NIV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I think he sums it up well with “everything that hinders and sin that entangles”. I probably would have had a much longer list. Now that I think about it, I probably would have created a list of complaints.

Romans 12:1 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us

Frustrations Abound

Every Christmas season there seems to be certain gifts that are everywhere. You can’t ignore them or get away from them. When I was a kid, I could always count on several gifts whether I wanted them or not – heavy socks, pajamas, and a sled. I was good with the sled but pajamas?! It is like that today. You go into a department store and gifts like these are everywhere – and now pajamas come in family packs!

Frustration is like those types of gifts. You can’t get away from them. Duke University did a study on "peace of mind." Factors found to contribute greatly to frustration are:

1) Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness.

2) A preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression.

3) Wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change.

4) Temptations to withdraw and become reclusive.

5) Indulging in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal.

6) Having too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable.

8) Selfishness. Self-centered egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring happiness.

9) [Let me add another] Having a misconception about peace:

Long ago a man sought the perfect picture of peace. Not finding one that satisfied, he announced a contest to produce this masterpiece. The challenge stirred the imagination of artists everywhere, and paintings arrived from far and wide. Finally, the great day of revelation arrived. The judges uncovered one peaceful scene after another, while the viewers clapped and cheered.

The tensions grew. Only two pictures remained veiled.

As a judge pulled the cover from one, a hush fell over the crowd.

A mirror-smooth lake reflected lacy, green birches under the soft blush of the evening sky. Along the grassy shore, a flock of sheep grazed undisturbed. Surely this was the winner.

The man with the vision uncovered the second painting himself, and the crowd gasped in surprise. Could this be peace?

A tumultuous waterfall cascaded down a rocky precipice; the crowd could almost feel its cold, penetrating spray. Stormy-gray clouds threatened to explode with lightning, wind and rain. In the midst of the thundering noises and bitter chill, a spindly tree clung to the rocks at the edge of the falls. One of its branches reached out in front of the torrential waters as if foolishly seeking to experience its full power.

A little bird had built a nest in the elbow of that branch. Content and undisturbed in her stormy surroundings, she rested on her eggs. With her eyes closed and her wings ready to cover her little ones, she manifested peace that transcends all earthly turmoil.

Berit Kjos, A Wardrobe from the King, pp. 45-46.

We live in the midst of a storm. Life’s events bump and bang into us over and over again. Frustrations are everywhere. But, we don’t have to live frustrated because we can bring our frustrations to Jesus and He exchanges it for His peace.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace

Probably all of us have heard that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but what does it mean to our lives? In the Christmas story we learn that it is more than just a title, it is a lifestyle and characteristic of the new believer.

Luke 1:76–79 NIV

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Luke 1:76-

Peace is a Gift of the Spirit

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

79 to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

I would like for us to consider the practicality of what it means to serve Jesus as the Prince of Peace and how His peace impacts the Christian.

Peace is a Gift of the Spirit

What can we do to get peace? Judging by commercials we just need some CBD oil. Seriously though, we can’t create peace diplomatically or constitutionally. We don’t always have it in our families, and (sadly) not even in our churches. However, we know that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. How do I get some?

Philippians 4:4–7 NIV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-

John Calvin wrote that peace “does not depend on the present aspect of things, and does not bend itself to the various shiftings of the world, but is founded on the firm and immutable word of God.”

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Rod Mattoon describes peace this way:

Peace possessed by one who has health, wealth, friends, and loved ones is understandable, but the peace of God in the midst of trials and tribulation is different. The peace of God that passeth understanding is peace so precious, that man's mind, with his skill and knowledge, can never produce it. It can never be of man's contriving. It is only of God's giving. This world demands a price for peace but it cannot deliver the goods after the price has been paid. The price for the peace of God has been paid for us, for the Lord Jesus Christ made peace through the blood of His cross (). (Mattoon's Treasures – Treasures from Philippians)

How can you explain the transformation after salvation of the bitter old man or woman, the miraculous passion and direction of the young, the changed heart of the felon in prison? The gift of peace through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Peace is Practiced

It is true that peace is simply a gift, and it is also true that peace is practiced.

The Bible Illuminates our Lives

Back when I was a high school English teacher, I liked to teach descriptive writing during the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. As examples I would describe Christmas Eve or morning, snow, Christmas lights, or nearly anything related to Christmas. Occasionally I would hear a complaint from a student that didn’t have positive memories of Christmas. In those cases I would encourage them to describe a Christmas they would like to have. I would also encourage them in that their tomorrows don’t have to be like yesterday.

The Bible is filled with practical guidelines from anything from marriage, to parenting, to finances, to relationships, to work ethics, and on and on. Building this wisdom into our lives becomes a buffer or guardrail to protect us when frustrations begin to build. Consider the Bible’s advice to married couples. The Bible provides the definition for marriage. It provides guidance for what love looks like. It provides guidance for the roles of husband and wife.

The same can be said for parenting, finances, work ethics, friendships, and more.

When we don’t practice Biblical wisdom in our lives, things get messed up and we end up with the fruit of frustration instead of the fruit of peace.

Practice Prayer and Worship

The practice of personal prayer and worship are defenses against frustration.

Modeled for Us by the Apostles

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. The book of Acts and the letters of the Apostles show us that it became a lifestyle for them and a rapid response to the frustrations that come with life:

· Prayer in the Upper Chamber

· Prayer for a Successor

· Prayer and Worship

· Prayer As an Observance

· Prayer for Boldness of Witness

· Prayer and the Ministry of the Word

· Prayer of the First Martyr

· Prayer for Samaritans and a Sorcerer

· Prayer of a Convert

· Prayer for Dorcas,

· Prayer of Cornelius

· Prayer for Peter in Prison

· Prayer of Ordination

· Prayer with Fasting

· Prayer at the Riverside

· Prayer in a Dungeon

· Prayer of Committal

· Prayer in a Shipwreck

· Prayer for the Fever-Stricken

In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God’s thoughts after him: to desire the things he desires, to love the things he loves, to will the things he wills.

Spirit-filled Praying

The experiences we’ve just listed would also be examples of spirit-filled praying, but I want to add this thought. Sometimes when I encounter a frustration in my life, I don’t know how to pray. In those times I begin to pray in the Spirit. Now I believe praying in the Spirit can be with both words that can be understood and words that only God understands.

Romans 8:26–27 NIV

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

1 Corinthians 14:15 NIV

15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.

The Spirit of God has many gifts for us and one of those gifts is speaking in other languages. As we continue to pursue God, the Spirit of God will continue to fill you with His Holy Spirit as the work of sanctification continues in your life. We simply need to continue to want more of Jesus.

“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God

“What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also”.

Receiving the Gift of Peace

Almost 30 years ago I learned an important lesson. You cannot have a gift unless you receive it. A gift will never be yours until you willingly take it and unwrap it. We’ve talked about God’s gifts of His presence instead of our loneliness, His Beauty instead of the ashes of our lives, and now His peace instead of our frustrations. It is very possible to stay lonely, broken, and frustrated – but, WHY?

In Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus we see shepherds in the fields.

Luke 2:8–15 NIV

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Luke 2:8-

We don’t know what their lives were like but maybe they were lonely, broken, and frustrated. They determined to check it out. I encourage each of us to check Jesus out, to accept His peace, to walk in His peace – not only during Christmas but each and every day of our lives.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”