IN Your Frustration, Sin Not (yeah, yeah, yeah....)

Question for all you really devout and perfect Christians...if you were on hold for forty minutes after speaking to someone in customer service of an American company who was obviously not a native English speaker and you could not understand a word he said....would you still maintain your impeccable Christian witness? And how about if he were completely unqualified to answer your simple question? And how about if he repeated the issue, to be sure he understood it, five times...and each time he was wrong?

Hypothetical question, of course.

Frustration. It is a killer. I suspect handling frustration is really wayyyyyy up there on God's list of character refining for one Vicky S Kaseorg. I hate those lessons which are so hard to learn. Those are the ones that God feels the need to subject me to again and again and again.

Fortunately, the hypothetical (not) story ended well. I reached a manager who thought the customer representative was as terrible as I thought he was, and he lodged a massive complaint. We were both on a conference call with said representative, and all of a sudden, without warning, we were both put on hold...for twenty minutes. I finally hung up. The manager emailed me and assured me this guy was getting a reprimand in his record, and the manager himself would call me back soon...once he got off hold with the foreign speaking rep.

I have to keep reminding myself: Jesus loves that inept, unqualified, incredibly stupid customer representative as much as He loves me. (Hard to believe, but that's what the Bible says.)

Still, I am feeling a little convicted. If I don't behave well when frustrated, then where is the power of God within me? How is my exploding at incompetent oafs drawing anyone closer to Jesus? It's not. I hate to admit it, but it's not. This is why I need Jesus, every day, every moment, every second. On my own power, I can do nothing. Especially when talking to idiots. Forgive me for that last comment, Jesus.

Then, I read the morning study by Charles Spurgeon. Here is an excerpt:

"Perfect in Christ Jesus."
Colossians 1:28
Do you not feel in your own soul that perfection is not in you? Does not every day teach you that? Every tear which trickles from your eye, weeps "imperfection;" every harsh word which proceeds from your lip, mutters "imperfection." You have too frequently had a view of your own heart to dream for a moment of any perfection in yourself. But amidst this sad consciousness of imperfection, here is comfort for you--you are "perfect in Christ Jesus."

oh. I would have to admit, I am not perfect. Not even close. Any holiness in me is from God alone. Ouch. 'Idiot' is not a word I should use about others, even in thought. Forgive me Lord. Really, I know better.

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Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

John 16:33 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 34:18 

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

1 Peter 5:7 

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 4:4-5 

Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord