In a talk with my son recently, I was mentioning to him how blessed we are. He wanted to get something, and I said no, and he wasn’t pleased about it. We talked about how continually wanting things leads to feelings of frustration, greed and maybe jealousy. As he walked away, I could tell he wasn’t exactly agreeing.
As I continued to think about this after our conversation, I realized that there are areas in my life where I act like this at times with God when I am asking Him for things and then getting frustrated when things don’t pan out like I think they should.
There is no point in living life like this!
A much better way is to remain in a continual state of thankfulness and mindfulness of what God does for us. How He blesses us and what He does to make this happen.
It is so easy to complain about what we don’t have, in what situations we are, and how they could be different. I have found though that complaining doesn’t change a situation nor does it make one feel any more willing to try harder or try to do something differently.
Why does God consider our complaining as something that should not be done?
Philippians 2:12-16 tells us: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
Complaining leads to us not being able to be used by God! When we complain, we take away the opportunity God has to use us or the chance to help us to grow. When we complain, we take matters into our own hands and leave no room for Him.
It is very easy to complain in this day and age when there is a lack of justice in our lands while immorality reigns. When nothing seems to be fair, it is easy to become dissuaded and discouraged. Even though we are told to sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done (Ezekiel 9:4), we need to realize that God is always there for us at all times. Lamentations 3 does a wonderful job in showing just how this is true, and it would be helpful at this time to read it thoroughly.
The reality is that there will always be opportunities to complain if we allow them to exist in our minds! How we choose to go about this is completely up to us. We will be judged on this though, and we will have to give an account. Even though it is hard, we should stop and think often about how God has blessed us and strive to let Him be glorified through how we live.
