8 Scriptures to Read When You’re Frustrated

1. Remember that God is in control by reading Isaiah 55:8-11.

Probably the most frustrating time in my life was when I discovered my Christian parents were going to divorce. They were leaders in the church, and they had told me divorce was not an option in a Christian marriage. I was angry (at them, not at God) and extremely frustrated at what was happening in my family. Yet, God soothed my heart and gave me hope that He was still in control when I happened to stumble upon Isaiah 55:8-11: 

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (NASB1995)

This passage reminded me to acknowledge God’s sovereignty, and thereby surrender to what He was allowing— not causing, but allowing— and that I could trust Him to bring about His plans from it. By holding onto that passage, I considered that chaotic situation an opportunity to take ownership of my faith as a young woman of 19 years old, and I learned through it not to question or second-guess what God allows in our lives to draw us closer to Him. 

When you are frustrated, the very act of reading this passage and acknowledging that God’s ways are not only different than your ways, but they are much higher and much better, reminds you that He sees the whole scope of your life.  When you’re frustrated, read it, and it will help you surrender your heart before Him, and remember that He is God and you are not.

2. Focus on the big picture from Romans 8:28-29. 

Romans 8:28 is one of the most partially quoted verses in the Bible and is often taken out of context when not including the verse that follows it.

Romans 8:28 and the first part of verse 29 states: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…” (NASB1995). 

Notice this verse is not saying God will cause all bad things (including your frustration) to work for good. It’s also not a promise to every person that there is going to be a silver lining in their suffering. Rather, in context, it is our assurance that—for those who love God and are called according to His purpose—He will turn to good what we struggle with and surrender to Him for the sole purpose of conforming us to the image of Christ. The key here is surrender. Bring to God your frustrating situation, surrender it to Him, and acknowledge that He can use it to make you more like His Son. By reading this verse, you won’t be looking for the blessings to come from the frustration itself, but rather looking at what God is doing in you through it. 

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3. Realize God may have something better for you by reading Psalm 84:11.

Many times our frustration stems from having waited or continually prayed for something, and God has not yet delivered. And if that’s the case, Psalm 84:11 contains truths that can encourage us in the midst of our frustration: 

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (NASB 1995)

When we read from this verse that God is “a sun” (that warms, gives light, and directs), and that He is a shield (who always protects), we will realize that His gifts are sometimes the very things that He withholds. So, our frustration may be just an insistence on our own plan or idea of what’s best for us, rather than God’s determination of what is best for us. This verse promises, “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”  So, if you’re walking uprightly, and you’re praying for a good thing, and God is still withholding it, then either it’s not a good thing for you, or it isn’t time. Sometimes when God withholds, it’s because He is waiting for the proper time to bless you, or He’s waiting to bless you with something far better than what you had thought to ask for. Trust Him in the midst of your frustration by reading this passage and remembering He is truly good. 

4. Resort to gratitude after reading 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Scripture commands us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

Wow. There’s no more specific verse in Scripture about God’s will for you and me than this one, telling us to be thankful in all things. Why? Because when we thank God in all things—including the hard and frustrating things—it glorifies God and makes us more like His Son, which is God’s ultimate will for us. A heart of gratitude gets rid of frustration every time. Instead of continuing to ask God to change your circumstances, consider asking Him to change your heart through them. That is a request that touches His heart because you are, in a sense, saying, “God, make me more like Your Son through this.” And His Word promises He will.

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5. Request of God, says 1 John 5:14-15.

We are given this confidence-building passage of Scripture that can help us in our frustration: “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

To ask for something according to God’s will or in His name, is to ask God the Father for something that Jesus the Son would ask for. So, if you ask God, in your frustration, for something that Jesus would ask for, like: “God, give me peace in this circumstance,” or “Lord, help me to understand what You want to do in me through this circumstance,” or even, “Lord, make me more like You through this,” then you can be confident that you will receive what you’ve asked for. Prayers like this can also push us back into perspective that life is about becoming more like Christ and glorifying Him in all our circumstances, including the difficult ones.

6. Reflect on God’s goodness by reading Matthew 7:11. 

Is one bad thing after another continuing to happen in your life? That can lead to a deep frustration that eventually leads to despair. So, nip it in the bud before it goes further by remembering Matthew 7:11: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

Read this verse and reflect on God’s goodness, and it may get you out of the pity party that might be leading to your frustration, or help you to let go of whatever you fear, which also might be causing your frustration. God is a good father. He will not allow you to be frustrated without reason. He is always working on your behalf. Trust Him and His gifts, no matter what form they may be in.

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7. Re-prioritize your heart by reading Matthew 6:31-33.

Are you frustrated about a lack of finances or daily provision, or any number of things that God can clearly take care of without you having to worry? Jesus’ advice to His followers in Matthew 6 can help when you begin to feel frustrated at what you don’t yet have. 

Jesus said: “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (verses 31-33). 

When you shift your focus to Him, not what you want Him to do or provide, then He will change your heart. Make Him your all, and you will soon find the frustration is gone, and you have all you need. 

8. Reset your heart and mind on heaven by reading Colossians 3:1-4. 

Colossians 3:1-4 tells us, “if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

Most of what frustrates us today stems from the problem of sin—either personal sin, someone else’s sin, or simply living on this earth that is diseased with sin. Yet this passage in Colossians commands us to set our minds on things above (where truth and fulfillment exist), not on earthly things (which can constantly frustrate us). 

The more I read about heaven, the less hold over me the things on this earth have. And the less frustrated I am with anything that happens here, knowing this world is not my home. That promotion you didn’t receive, or that lack of funds in your account, or your delayed or frustrated vacation plans, or a myriad of other things, pale in comparison to what awaits you in the heavenly realm. Ask God to give you a heart that is set on Him and eternity, and it will be a paradigm shift for not only how you think, but how you live—less frustrated and more in love with Jesus. 

For more on drawing closer to God in a frustrating world, see Cindi’s book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.

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