Monday, December 7, 2020

Complain Away - Martin Wiles

The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words. Psalm 39:3 NLT

I am guilty…of complaining.

As a young boy, my physique bothered me. I wasn’t athletically built. You know, the last one picked for the team to play whatever game the coach assigned. Also, the one ignored by the girls.

As a driver. When the car in front of me drove too slow, when the car behind me sped around me in places it shouldn’t have, or when the driver behind me rode my bumper so closely I could feel his breath on my neck.

About the bills. As a young man just out of high school, working hard every day, trying to make ends meet, and watching my outgo exceed my income.

About taxes. How the Internal Revenue Service took too much from my check, not leaving me enough to get by on.

About people. People whom I led who said they wanted me to change things in their organization, but when I did I got no appreciation … and nothing but complaints.

About the world and how terrible people can be. The rate of crime. How the wicked seemed to get ahead while the do-gooders fall behind.

David—as well as other biblical figures—complained too, but his complaints erupted to the right person: God.

No one likes a constant complainer, unless misery loves company. Complainers tend to hang around together, but those who don’t like complaining avoid them. God doesn’t. Of course, there are things He doesn’t want us to complain about. Such as when His people who wandered in the wilderness didn’t enjoy the food He provided and complained. Their complaints brought discipline.

Whether our complaints are justified or not, God is the one to whom we should take them. He’ll never avoid or walk away from us as others might. He knows why we’re upset … and wants to hear about every detail of our lives.

When our complaints are unjustified, God—through the work of His Spirit—can reorient our perspective. (He’s had to do that quite a few times with me.). When they are justified, He can guide us along the right path to address them with the right person and in the right way.

God has the ability to see what we can’t see: what’s ahead. He’s been where we haven’t and knows the big picture. He even controls it.

When you feel like complaining, take your complaints to God. He’s ready to listen.

Prayer: Father, hear our complaints and guide us along the best paths to address them.

Tweetable: Are you a complainer? 


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