A Heart-to-Heart

I told a friend of mine just yesterday that one of the things I am so thankful for in our church is that, while I feel too overwhelmed sometimes to just flip my Bible to a page and read and glean some deep meaning from it, every Sunday I'm given the opportunity to dig deeper into the Word throughout the next week.

So, today I was feeling beyond frustrated (over some non-adoption things).  I prayed, telling God where I am in my human-ness, my frustration, and I heard back, "Of course you're frustrated over this, I am not in them."  And I felt drawn back to what my pastor preached on Sunday.

I turned to Ephesians 4, and read:

¹⁷ So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. ¹⁸ They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. ¹⁹ Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
²⁰ That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. ²⁶ “In your anger do not sin”^[d]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold. ²⁸ Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
²⁹ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

And as frustrated as I was before, I am so thankful for the relationship I have with my Father, who takes the time to calm me down, talks to me through His word, and then guides me in what I need to work on myself.  You know, Abba, I'm really enjoying our heart-to-hearts.