Frustration and thankfulness

--This is a post I wrote a little over a year ago, in the summer of 2012.  At the time I didn't have a blog but I wrote this reflection and I've been waiting for a good time to post it.--

I was about 10 minutes into my 25-minute drive home when my car became very difficult to drive.  I couldn't accelerate, so I pulled over and called my mom to pick me up.  It turned out the car needed coolant, so we got some, put it in, and I drove home.  The 25-minute trip had turned into 2 hours.  I got home, hot and tired, and bickered with my mom and sister about my incessant mess.  I tried to figure out how to squeeze all my planned afternoon activities into the evening.  Finally, very frustrated, I went into my room to do devotions, all ready to vent it all to God.

But I then I realized, I have it so good.  Instead of complaining about all the little things that made my afternoon turn grumpy, I thanked God for all the good things in my life.  I have a car--with AC--and I have money to buy gas.  I have an amazing family who loves me.  I have a house that is safe and secure.  I'm able to attend a (really really great) private school.  I'm healthy, and have easily accessible medical care whenever I need it.  I have an endless supply of clean water and food.  Wow, what a privileged life I lead!  And most of all, I have the God of the universe taking care of me, always faithful!  I have no right to be grumpy or unthankful.

Now I'm not saying that you should never be frustrated or angry, but don't let the little things in life bog you down!  When I think about the people I met in Ghana last summer (2011), how little they had (my life is an absolute luxury!) but how happy they were despite that, it really puts things into perspective.  My problems are so trivial!  Now I understand what God means when He says "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." (Proverbs 29:11)  What good would it have done had I reiterated all my problems to God?  Nothing.  The problems in the past would still be in the past, and the ones in the present would still need to be solved.  I would have ended up even more frustrated than before.

Thankfulness is so important!  Not only does it help us get perspective, it is one of God's commands to Christians.  There's even a whole Psalm just about giving thanks (Psalm 100).  1 Thessalonians says to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Oh God be my everything, be my delight.  Be, Jesus, my glory, my soul satisfied.