My First Words to the Dream Year Class

As you enter this next year, I’m counting on one thing from you - that you’re frustrated. If you were to say, “No, I’m doing great. Everything’s fine. I just want to try out this new idea," I’d be worried. If you weren’t discontented, heartsick, or angry about something in the world, you would have no reason to go after your dream.

Without frustration, you’d never even recognize your dream, let alone have the passion to pursue it. Going after a dream is hard. And frustration is the fuel that propels you through the challenges when your idealism runs out.

There are going to be times when you’ll need that frustration. You’ll need a “worse time” to help you endure the difficult times ahead. Frustration will make you unwilling to return to the way things were before.

When people get frustrated, most of them respond by complaining. And you can’t blame them. Bad bosses; no money; workplace injustices; terrible customer service – we’ve all been there. But we can also respond to frustration by dreaming. We can take the same agonizing circumstances and use them to create a fresh, new vision for the future.

To do this, you and I must learn to see frustration as a gift.

After all, God uses frustration to shape a vision.

Comments

[Sam]

thanks ben! needed that reassurance this morning... that frustration is ok, it just needs to be redirected to the positive.

[Justin Gerhardt]

Woah. That's just what I needed. Thanks for posting that, Ben.

[Sam Mahlstadt]

THAT is why I don't miss this blog, Ben. Thank you, yet again, for putting words on an inescapable truth when dealing with taking something from concept to creation.

[Barton Damer]

Good words, Ben.

[Ben Arment]

thnx B

[DisneyCyndi]

How did you know? Frustration doesn't even begin to cover it!

[Ryan]

Great thoughts. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the call yesterday. My hand hurts from having it pried open. But, I can tell you I'm uncomfortable in my own skin right now. We'll see what God does with that. The journey continues.

[Ben Arment]

"I see that my letter caused you sorrow..." =) I wish someone had challenged me at the outset of church planting.

Loved talking with you Ryan. Thanks for your humility. God's going to do amazing things through you...

[Natalie]

Ummm ummm good. Like Campbell's on a cold day! Thx Ben!!!!

Love your creativity! Looking forward to see where 2010 brings you!

[alece]

such a powerful truth: God uses frustration to shape and fuel my vision. i love that. thank you for giving me a glimpse of Him at work in the midst of my challenges right now.