Back to: The Banquet (Wisdom Devotional)
Successful People Face Frustrations Too
Successful people are not exempt from life’s frustrations. Frustrations are not trials or tribulations- They are everyday mundane hassles that are almost silly in comparisons to real life problems. Beyonce and Connie Ferguson face the frustrations of traffic, load shedding, broken shoe etc. just like everybody else does. It doesn’t matter who you are, we are all bound to face some form of frustration in life consistently.
The Key To Living Successfully Amidst The Frustrations, Begins With Your Attitude
What is attitude? A settled way of thinking or feeling about something.
Is Life To Enjoy Or Tolerate
- Do you live life to enjoy or just to get by?
- Do you take time to laugh each day or mope around angry and bitter?
- Do you take time to go for a walk outside and enjoy nature or are you always stuck inside your 4 walls, lazing around and doing nothing?
- These are all choices we make that determine our attitude
- Can Christians enjoy life or is it considered too ‘ worldly’ to have fun?
Saint Simeon
- There was a man named Saint Simeon who lived in Syria hundreds of years ago.
- He believed that all things that bring pleasure in life are evil, and he decided to enter a monastery at 13 years ( a building where people living under strict religious rules and vows)
- Where he devoted himself to living a life of abstinence from worldly living
- Simeon deprived himself of social interaction ( no friends or community- lived in isolation) and to him this was victorious Christian living.
- Simeon spent his nights in prayer and spent most of his time fasting. ( so always hangry)
- He eventually died at the age of 37.- No one even knows him
- Was this really a fun and eventful life to live?
Solomon Addressing This Issue
- If you have ever experienced frustrations in your work, family or career, wise King Solomon offers some life changing counsel.
- It is meaningless- Referring to the futility of life ( Ecclesiastes 1: 1-8 )
- You wash a dish; the sink just gets full of dishes again.
- You work for a paycheck, just for it to be spent in a day on all your expenses.
- Why are some people rich and others not
- Nothing has a conclusive meaning to it, and that makes life frustrating
- Solomon found through his own personal experience that pleasure, achievements, wealth and fame could not bring him satisfaction.
Enjoying Life Is A Gift From God
Solomon first discovers that rather than worrying over the frustrations of life, we should enjoy life to the fullest. (Stop stressing over things you have no control over) Ecclesiastes 2: 24. Solomon emphasizes the word JOY– which appears 17 times in this book. Joy- a feeling of great pleasure, and great pleasure in life can only truly be found in knowing God. You will truly be able to enjoy life to the fullest. This solution offered by Solomon is the key to maintaining sanity and good humor in the face of life’s perplexities.
The Difference Between Joy & Happiness?
Joy Is an inner feeling. Happiness is an outward expression. Joy endures hardship and trials and connects with meaning and purpose. A person pursues happiness but chooses Joy. You might be happy about something, but you are not going to be continually happy forever. Happiness is great, but we can get happiness from a lot of things, even earthly things. Joy, on the other hand, is a long-lasting state of being. Joy is promised by God and something we should strive towards.
The Fruits Of The Holy Spirit– Joy is a fruit of the Spirit- Galatians 5:22-23
Keeping The Balance
Solomon encourages us to enjoy life but not to do it in access. To always be reminded of our accountability before God- ethical & moral responsibilities.
In this way we will find joy and fulfillment amidst the frustrations of life.
