Frustration and Biblical Counsel: A Perspective from Scripture

Frustration is defined by Webster as a feeling of discouragement or dissatisfaction when our needs, desires, or goals are unmet. As a biblical counselor, I see this emotion often, and I want to share from my own experience as well. Right now, I’m walking through a season of frustration. My husband serves in the military, and with each new assignment comes the challenge of uprooting our lives—saying goodbye, adjusting to new communities, and navigating the uncertainty that comes with each move. Last year, I felt strongly that I wanted to create a virtual job that could move with us, one that would not disappear with every relocation. I envisioned providing biblical counseling online, no matter where the military placed us. I’ve re-evaluated this goal many times and still believe it aligns with my passion and lifestyle. But the process has been much more difficult than I anticipated, and the obstacles have left me feeling discouraged and frustrated.

In moments like this, it’s helpful to remember that frustration is not something we experience alone. The Bible offers numerous examples of faithful individuals who faced frustration in their lives. These stories are not just historical—they provide deep insights into how we can respond to our own seasons of frustration. Here are some key examples:

Moses (Exodus 5-6)

• Context: Moses was called by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. But when he approached Pharaoh, the situation only worsened, and the Israelites’ suffering increased.

• Frustration: Moses, feeling the weight of his calling and the failure of his mission, turned to God with his frustration. In Exodus 5:22-23, Moses asks, “Why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me?”

• God’s Response: In Exodus 6:1, God reassures Moses that His plan is still unfolding. Even though Moses couldn’t see it, God was at work behind the scenes. This shows us that even when we’re frustrated, God’s purposes are still moving forward, even when we don’t fully understand His timing or methods.

  
  

David (Psalm 13, 22)

• Context: David often expressed his frustration during times of personal hardship, especially when feeling persecuted or abandoned.

• Frustration: In Psalm 13:1-2, David cries out to God, asking, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” He felt that God had abandoned him in his time of need.

• God’s Response: While David’s frustration is real, his psalms also reflect a turning to God in the midst of pain. By the end of Psalm 13, David expresses trust in God’s goodness. Psalm 22, too, shows David’s raw emotion but also his ultimate surrender to God’s will, leading him to renewed hope and trust in God’s faithfulness.

  
  

Job (Job 3)

• Context: Job experienced devastating losses—his health, wealth, and family—and in the depth of his suffering, he questioned why the righteous suffer.

• Frustration: Job’s frustration is intense. In Job 3:11-13, he asks, “Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?” His frustration was not just with his personal suffering, but with the seeming injustice of it all.

• God’s Response: God’s response to Job was not an explanation of why he suffered, but a reminder of His sovereignty and the vastness of His wisdom (Job 38-41). In his frustration, Job ultimately found peace in surrendering to God’s greater knowledge and plan.

  
  

Elijah (1 Kings 19)

• Context: After a dramatic victory over the prophets of Baal, Elijah faces threats from Queen Jezebel and flees into the wilderness. Feeling overwhelmed, he becomes deeply discouraged and frustrated.

• Frustration: Elijah says in 1 Kings 19:4, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Elijah felt isolated and hopeless, convinced that his efforts had been futile.

• God’s Response: God responds with care, providing rest, nourishment, and a gentle whisper that reassured Elijah he was not alone (1 Kings 19:11-18). Sometimes, when we feel frustrated and isolated, God offers us the comfort of His presence and a reminder of our purpose.

  
  

Jonah (Jonah 4)

• Context: Jonah was frustrated when God showed mercy to the people of Nineveh after they repented. Jonah had hoped to see them destroyed, but instead, God spared them.

• Frustration: Jonah expressed his frustration with God’s mercy in Jonah 4:1-3: “This seemed very wrong, and he became angry... Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah couldn’t understand why God would forgive such a wicked city.

• God’s Response: God gently rebukes Jonah, using a plant that grew and withered to illustrate the value of mercy over judgment (Jonah 4:4-11). Through this, God taught Jonah that His mercy is not for us to control or question. We can trust in God’s justice, even when we don’t fully understand it.

  
  

Paul (Romans 7:15-24)

• Context: Paul speaks openly about his internal frustration in Romans 7, describing the struggle between his desire to do what is right and his inability to do so.

• Frustration: Paul writes in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” He struggles with the tension between his desires and the reality of his actions.

• God’s Response: While Paul is frustrated with his own inability to live out his ideal, he also finds hope in Christ. Romans 7:25 shows Paul’s ultimate trust in Jesus as the one who delivers him from this struggle: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Frustration with ourselves can drive us to deeper dependence on God’s grace.

  
  

Conclusion

Frustration is a common and natural part of the human experience, even for those who are faithfully following God. The Bible shows us that God understands our frustration and offers us His presence and comfort in the midst of it. He may not always explain why we are going through difficulty, but He promises that His plans are good, and He is always with us. When we bring our frustrations to God, He can use them to refine our hearts, teach us His ways, and deepen our trust in Him. As we journey through these seasons of frustration, we can find peace in knowing that God is at work, even when we can’t yet see the full picture.