This morning, I was reminded of a very frustrating topic by a good friend. We were discussing how to accomplish a particular goal in our ministry here at IAA, and I realized that I was getting increasingly annoyed and frustrated by the circumstances surrounding this issue. After getting off the phone, I started wondering why I had gotten so frustrated and how I could move past these frustrations. Here are five steps I’ve come up with to understand and deal with frustrations:

1. Recognize Frustrations

For me, my back becomes tense, my stomach curls up in a knot, and my throat tightens. What are your signals? Recognizing a frustrating situation is the first step to dealing with it. Frustration tends to come as a result of assuming responsibility that doesn’t belong to us. So, the next step in dealing with it is:

2. Stay Humble

We get frustrated because we assume responsibility for something that doesn’t belong to us. This often points to a sinful attitude of pride: We believe that we know better or can handle better than the person(s) legitimately responsible for something. This is why Peter instructs us to, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7). To be humble is to recognize that I am nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing apart from God. Recognizing this moves me one step closer to the next step:

3. Cast Your Cares on God

God cares for us, and He is waiting eagerly for us to ask Him for help! The idea of casting your cares on God is a common theme, but what does it really mean? The Greek word used in 1 Peter 5:7 literally means “to throw upon.” The idea is that we are relinquishing responsibility for these things which are frustrating us and committing them to God. How do we do this?

4. Pray!

Nehemiah provides a positive example for us. In response to profound frustrations throughout his experience, he prayed. When he got news of the state of Jerusalem, he prayed. When confronted with opposition, he prayed. His primary, first response to stress and anxiety was prayer! We can learn much from the contents of his prayers as well.

5. Recognize God’s Promises

Nehemiah’s prayer in Nehemiah 1:5-11 begins, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.” Nehemiah recognized that God is faithful to His promises and to His people! As the author of Hebrews reminds us, “For he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”" (Hebrews 13:5-6). If God is for us, who can be against us?

Nehemiah then recited specific promises God had given His people. We should do the same. By memorizing and claiming God’s promises, we strengthen our faith and drive away our frustrations.

How do you deal with frustrations?

I was recently chatting with a friend (who happens to be my mother) and we were discussing parenting in the age of Facebook.  Some parents are understandably cautious to let their kids engage in online activities, social networking site, etc. Beyond the security risks, there are many concerns over privacy. No one wants their kids to be compromised 30 years from now because they posted some less-than-wonderful photos of themselves.

The reality, however, is even grimmer. With the ubiquity of camera-phones and widespread internet access, it is highly likely that someone somewhere will post a picture of you—whether you knew of it, approved of it or participated in it.

Wall Street Journal predicted today that this is only going to get worse:

As social-networking sites become a daily diary and blogging grows more popular, some people are likely to feel their privacy compromised by their own friends, who are constantly publishing casual information about them without their permission. Mr. Bankston calls the phenomenon “Little Brother surveillance.”

Obviously, just avoiding the social networking scene isn’t going to protect your reputation down the road. This state of affairs calls for a much more proactive level of involvement.

Over the years, my parents and I have talked quite a bit about this, and I’ve developed my own personal philosophy. First, instead of minimizing my internet presence, I’ve opted to maximize it—to “flood the market with genuines,” as it were. If you Google me, you will see how this has worked. You can track my books, look at my resume, read daily updates on my life, look at my pictures, see my friends, even look at my internet bookmarks.

The second aspect of my strategy is one everyone should adopt: To live a life that is “Facebook-proof.” As a Christian, my life is a testimony, and my actions speak louder than words. By avoiding compromising situations and by realizing that anything I say or do, anywhere, will be public, I can help maintain a healthy reputation online and offline.

Along with this comes a responsibility: Those of us putting stuff out for the whole world to see must be responsible and watch out for those who don’t. I am afraid my record isn’t the greatest here. We must be careful when sharing photos and videos to not share something embarrassing to someone without their consent.

What is your take on privacy in the Facebook age?