Tests and challenges, disagreeable people, and frustrating circumstances are potentially upsetting, but they’re not going to go away anytime soon. However, the good news is that we don't have to carry these problems with us. The truth is, it’s not what happens to us that determines our mood; it’s what happens in us! The way we respond is a choice. We can imagine that life would immediately change for the better if we could change people and circumstances. What we forget is that even then, there would be new people and new circumstances to deal with that hadn't occurred to us. We can't control the world on the outside, but we do have some control over the world on the inside. Proverbs tells us, ‘A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls’; in other words, a city that’s open to attack. The only way to be certain of feeling secure is to forget about controlling people and things, and to focus on maintaining our own protective walls of self-control. People and circumstances can make us feel inadequate and vulnerable, but the Bible tells us that ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ (1 Peter 5:5 NRSV). In fact, recognising our own inadequacies is the first step on the journey to wholeness. The second step is accepting that only God can empower us with self-control (see Philippians 2:13). Step three lies in understanding that self-control doesn’t come from our own determination; it’s a product of the Holy Spirit – a fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). When we submit to the Spirit who lives within us, He'll strengthen our walls of self-control and empower us to stand strong against the enemies of temptation, anger, and frustration.

What Now?

When something frustrates or annoys you, hold on to the fact that even though you can’t always change the circumstances, you do have a choice in how you respond to them. Ask God to help you react in a way that’s pleasing to Him.