Frustration to Motivation

FRUSTRATION TO MOTIVATION

Mark 11:15-17

Verse 15: “Upon reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.”

Secret of Contentment devotion urged believers to beat life frustrations that lead to discouragement. The secret to contentment is letting God be God. Trusting Jesus to be Lord of our lives means that we trust in His divine will. Jeremiah 28:11 promises that we can have confidence for our futures of hope that God plans.

But there’s a different frustration that Christians suffer, of which God approves. This is righteous frustration. The Scripture passage that shows Jesus upsetting the tables of the money changers in the temple illustrates God’s judgment acted out by the Messiah. Jesus is the Christ, God’s anointed one.

The scene happened in the Court of the Gentiles, a noisy, smelly marketplace. The Jewish leaders allowed security for robbers here—in two ways. The money changers often cheated the people who traded, sold or bought animal sacrifices. AND, this robbed the temple of its holiness.

Believers are motivated out of frustration to make positive changes the world today. Christians are sensitive—through the Holy Spirit’s promptings—to the evil that weighs on God’s heart. So God uses righteous frustration to motivate His kids to make positive differences in the world. Witnessing beatings, immoral acts out in the open, or hearing foul language convict Christians to correct what’s wrong, and try making things right.

So Christians of today can share in the frustration Jesus displayed in disrupting the money changers at the temple. Our conscience motivates us to correct what’s wrong.

But, let’s use caution. It’s easy to be too eager to call people out when we perceive they’re wrong. Let’s avoid causing needless damage to others or to ourselves, by making hasty decisions or jumping to conclusions. It’s important to check feelings at the gate, before rushing mouth first into disaster.

Take Home Nugget

Jesus is Lord of our lives when we surrender our will to Him every day. While this relieves frustration, we get into trouble if we don’t also surrender emotions to His Lordship. Then, the Holy Spirit will lead us to correct awareness and what actions to take. It’s best to wait for clear guidance before running off at the mouth.

Sometimes, we’re only asked to pray for another.

Holy Lord, whenever I see evil, I want to stop it. Whenever I hear foul language, I want to scream. The same frustration of a fallen world that weighs on You, Father, weighs on me. Lead me to make positive changes on earth whenever I am righteously frustrated, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

J.D. Griffith

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