Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure. Psalm 147:5
Have you ever thought that it's not the big tragedies that frustrate us, but the little things in life that really wear us down?
As I was waiting to catch a flight at an airport, I watched a man put four quarters into a coffee machine, push the button labeled, "Coffee, Sugar and Double Cream."
He waited for the machine to dispense. It did. The coffee dispensed, the double cream dispensed and the sugar dispensed. The only thing, which didn’t dispense was a coffee cup.
Everything splashed onto the grill and drizzled down the drain.
The man stood watching and then, in frustration, said, "That's automation. The machine even drinks it for you."
A missed cup of coffee isn’t the end of the world.
Even so, if you add enough of those events and group them closely together, it can get really frustrating. It’s enough to give a person a short temper and a pretty bitter outlook on life.
Most of you understand. I know the Lord Jesus does.
There was seldom a time when things went absolutely right for the Savior, or when people understood His parables and sermons, or when they gave thanks for His miracles, or when they rejoiced that He was trying to save them.
Jesus could have become very frustrated. What He did do was remain our Savior. Frustrated or not, Jesus kept on going, kept on traveling, kept on giving, until it took Him to the cross.
Because He did, we are saved. Saved for eternity. Saved to be patient and to encourage each other.
From a devotion originally written for "By the Way"
THE PRAYER: Dear Father, the minute-to-minute difficulties we face are no news to You. Your perfect comprehension knows what irks and worries us. Let us rejoice in Jesus’ faithfulness in the face of frustration. Let us give thanks for His faithfulness, which forgives and saves. In His Name. Amen.
NOTICE: Lutheran Church Charities invited me to write a sermon of comfort for the victims of the shooting at Northern Illinois University. That sermon has been posted here: Sermon Your viewing and response is appreciated.
In Him,
Pastor Ken Klaus
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible Readings: Leviticus 13 Mark 7:14-37
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