We all have ups and downs to life. How do you deal with the

downs? Do you numb yourself and avoid them? Or do you find

the hidden gift held within them?

Each time a painful emotion is felt, it provides an

opportunity. Pain gives us the gift of growth in a hidden

package. Something is shouting out for a change. If we pause

and open this gift, a great secret of freedom and love can be

revealed. Sometimes when the pain is large enough, we have no

choice but to look at it anyway. My largest pains have helped to

open the greatest growths in my life. Hey, it’s worth a shot, right?

Finding a healthy way to vent can even help to relieve anxiety,

something more and more of us are suffering from in these

times. Those who don’t find a healthy way of venting often stuff it

inside until they explode one day or get into the habit of finding

ways to numb themselves, such as eating. Venting can help to

truly relieve stress, which is known to cause many ailments and

“dis-eases” in our bodies.

Before true clarity can be reached on why something is

happening, it is best to free up the strong energy that arises

from the frustration of the situation. Once that energy has

been expressed, you can rest in the stillness, while still connected

to the power of emotion, to reach the greatest levels of clarity

possible. It is here where our insight is at a natural high. With the

power of the openness we have after pain, our greatest growth

can happen. We can release the ties to these situations and grow

beyond them.

Here are some ways to vent out the frustrations, sadness, and

anger that arise as a normal part of growing and a healthy life:

1. Cry. When you feel deeply sad, crying works beautifully.Often

when we cry, we want a shoulder to cry on. If none is

available, cry to yourself and receive it with love.Either way,

allowing yourself the space to cry can work wonders on freeing

up the stored up energy inside that is too much to contain

within. While crying connect with the pain you feel and cry into

it.

2. Punch. If you feel very angry, you may feel the desire to hit

something. A very healthy way of exerting this powerful energy

is to punch a pillow. Hit the pillow like it’s the person/thing you

are angry at. Yell and cuss at it as well if that helps to release

that tension. Cuss words are great at opening up that stored

up energy and getting to the root of your emotions. As you hit,

smash into that frustration and feel exactly what aspects of it

are making you angry.

3. Write. Writing can help to clear the overwhelm of information

in your head. It allows a pouring out of what is going on

inside. Once you’ve written all you can, some things will still

stand out or certain feelings may still be felt strongly. These

are the largest lessons in the situation. Writing provides a great

clarity that other ways may not give. You can easily reflect on

what you were feeling in the situation once the emotion has

passed in an effort to keep the lesson fresh in your mind and

heart. Some people enjoy tearing up the pages after they’ve

written as a way to exert their frustration. Molly Cook suggests

capturing the emotions and negative energy in the paper, for

your eyes only, as a private way to vent. Laurel

Suttonrecommends online communities such as Asshat!They

allow a platform for transforming your frustration into an

amusing rant and provide the opportunity for anonymous

feedback, if desired.

4. Exercise. Some of your most frustrating days in your life may

turn out to be your best days in the gym. AsJen Olewinski so

beautifully puts it, “Plus, getting in shape can’t be that bad

right?” Running, boxing and walking all allow great ways to

vent. Many spiritual people find their way into their deepest

connections through opening the door to regular

exercise. Exerting energy in this way, with a regular

commitment to their health, opens them like nothing else.

Yesterday we saw that when fleshly desires and godly freedom collide, the result can be frustration, anxiety, and dissatisfaction with our circumstances. Unless we’re careful, that inner turmoil can lead to sin.

There is another form of frustration, however. It’s used by God to motivate His children to make a positive difference in the world around them. This emotion is derived from witnessing acts of evil, feeling a great need to deliver the gospel to the lost, or becoming discontent with the moral deterioration of our culture. It comes from being burdened by the same things that weigh on God’s heart.

Ephesians 4:30 says the Holy Spirit within us can become “grieved,” or saddened, by the rampant evil all around. When this happens, we experience the sensation of godly frustration. Perhaps this is what Jesus felt when He witnessed the money changers selling their wares in God’s holy temple (Mark 11:15).If we are not cautious, though, acting upon impulsive urges can cause needless damage to others and to ourselves. So, to bring about positive change, we must properly direct any feelings of spiritual frustration. That’s why it is important to establish a practice of submitting all our emotions to the Lord. When our hearts are pure, He will reveal to us what He would have us do.

The next time you experience godly frustration, lift up your feelings to the Lord, and wait patiently until you receive clear guidance about how to proceed. He may ask you to take action, or He may call you to intercede quickly in prayer.