Frustration - Dwelling Spaces

Saturday 13 February 2016

Frustration


One of the joys of living in college is engaging with the network printer... I've spent many (not-so-happy) hours over the last three years walking down the corridor from my room to the printer only to find nothing has printed or the paper has jammed or...well you can guess all the possible outcomes! Tonight has seen a 45 minute attempt to print the service for tomorrow morning, an exercise of patience and not a little frustration.

Frustration is an interesting emotion, perhaps it is a good one because at least there was hope in the beginning that all would go smoothly. I wonder if you live without hope whether you do get frustrated or whether you just have no expectation that things will go well for you?

The psalms are a good place for learning how all sorts of different emotions can be expressed to God within an attitude of worship. Psalm 10 starts with questions: Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? There is never an easy answer to the supposed absence of God when things go wrong, but the psalmist ends by saying "O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart." This is what gives hope - there is one who hears and gives strength to those who call on Him.

And I did get my print in the end too!

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