Frustration vs. Procrastination
November 14, 2007
“I think of Joseph, whom Hannah and I are studying in homeschool. When he was given disappointments and hardships that we can’t even imagine, in the end he looked the ones who were responsible in the face and said that God meant it for good, and it was okay because of that. Beyond that, I am constantly convicted by something I heard David Jeremiah say on the radio recently. That if we’re fatigued, if we’re frustrated, or if we’re failing, then we are trying to do it in our own strength. That made me mad at first, but I eventually saw that it was absolutely true, and I had to give up control back to Him if I was going to get anywhere.”
I’ve complained much of frustration lately. When I asked a friend to pray for me, this was the response she sent me. This entire week I’ve not felt frustrated, but credit is not due to my friend’s wonderful admonition. The reason I feel less weary is simply this: procrastination. I’m not stressed over how to spend my time or my energies because I’m wasting it all. I’ve been drowning myself (and my time) in novels. Not that there is anything wrong with reading!! Wow – I would never even think such a thing! But if reading keeps me from fulfilling grander purposes; if it supersedes what should be a higher priority, isn’t that a problem?
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.” — Colossians 3:23 (NAS)
In other words, we are to give our very best; we are to work with passion and tireless ambition, no matter what we do. I think of this verse whenever I tackle a less than glamorous chore. Like dishes. I hate doing the dishes. But reading! I love to read! I will gladly read with all my strength and all my time. But is that the work I’ve been called to do?
Entry Filed under: books,frustration,perseverance,purpose,work. .
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1.
Cami | November 15, 2007 at 10:43 AM
“There’s a season for everything.” Maybe it’s simply reading season in your life? : )
2.
Mark Goodyear | November 15, 2007 at 4:29 PM
In general, if I feel like I’m procrastinating, I take that as a sign that I am. However, I definitely agree with Cami. Sometimes you just need to take some time.
As an editor, a lot of what I do is research based. That means I just read stuff. It’s fun, but there’s a definite purpose. And I take good notes in the margins.
3.
DALE | November 17, 2007 at 10:28 AM
This week, the woman I work for said to me, “Sometimes I just get so overwhelmed by everything that I have to do that I just shut down.”
Those words – and yours – echo how I’ve been feeling the last few weeks. I feel like I’m drowning in writing assignments and school projects and church obligations. Sometimes I just want to run away, literally or figuratively.
But maybe the truth is in what you said – that I’m trying to do everything in my own strength. And I just need to remember that in MY weakness HIS strength is made perfect.
We will never have the strength in and of ourselves to do what He calls us to do, Tanya. We weren’t created to be independent, but dependent on God. Apart from Him, we can do nothing.
4.
Kristina | November 23, 2007 at 5:37 PM
Even God needed to rest…so how much more so do WE need rest? Sometimes taking a break and reading some novels is exactly what we need in order to rest, in order to move forward.
Don’t be too hard on yourself
Kristina
5.
Real Live Preacher | November 27, 2007 at 8:29 AM
Lately this hasn’t been a problem for me, but at times in my life I have struggled with it.