I have been frustrated lately. Really frustrated. It seems like nothing is going my way and I get so irritated when I make plans or try to do something and it seems like there is always something keeping me from it. I try to do the right thing, the best thing, and yet I still feel stuck so many times.

Sunday was a bit of an eye opener to me. Although I have never killed my best friend in a drunk driving incident, I have made my decisions on my own. I have neglected speaking to God about the things I do before I do them. Thats how I ended up married to an abusive husband. That’s also one of the reasons our marriage deteriorated after it was all said and done.

I really think that frustration means we’ve stopped relying on God. If we were relying on God, his Holy Spirit and grace would help us walk through anything that comes our way. Frustration hits when we stop depending on Him and try to make something happen our own way. The problem with making things happen OUR way is that we don’t see the big picture.

When I become frustrated, I have to remind myself that I am actually trying to take the place of the Holy Spirit.  By refusing to depend on God, in essence, I say, “Okay, God, I appreciate that You’re around, but watch me do this.”

As Troy stated on Sunday, depending on God for everything may be difficult, but it’s the key to the victory we need every single day of our lives. When God saved us, He didn’t help us and then say, “Ok, that’s it. You’re on your own now!” He’s eternally saved us, which means if we depend on Him, He will guide us and help us. Galations 5:16 urges us to “walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit…then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh”…. Notice that it doesn’t say “conquer the flesh independently…then you will certainly not gratify the desires of the flesh.” No, it says to live in the Holy Spirit.

I know what I am working on this week!