Jennifer McAlisterFrazzled and in a hurry, I rushed out of the house, hoping not to be late for an event I was volunteering at. Pulling into the parking lot, I quickly prayed, “Dear Lord, I want to honor you with my time, finances, and actions.” Before continuing, I had a thought that wasn’t mine, “and attitude.” Ouch. I was convicted because I woke up in a bad mood and knew my attitude needed an adjustment. The night before, I opened the door for discontentment to enter when I chose to complain, which ushered in an attitude of ingratitude.
In the Bible, we find many examples of why complaining doesn’t honor God but reveals a lack of faith. For example, after God powerfully and miraculously rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, they decided to complain whenever a problem arose, for example;
“The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt when we sat by the pots of meat when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (Exodus 16:2-3).
Despite their memory loss regarding all God had done, He still graciously provided for them. Moses, however, rebuked their whining when he said, “…for the Lord hears your grumblings which you grumble against Him. And what are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord” (Exodus 16:8).
“Your grumblings are not against us but against the Lord” — It’s no wonder God doesn’t want us to grumble! Instead, we are to give thanks in all circumstances (see 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Trusting Him, regardless of our problems, sets us apart, honors Him, and allows us to shine in a dark world.
So, what do we do when we have legitimate concerns that we want to vocalize? The Bible tells us not to be anxious but to bring our problems to God through prayer with a thankful attitude (see Philippians 4:6-7). When we look to the Lord, He empowers us to confront issues biblically instead of simply complaining. As Christ’s ambassadors, we represent Him as we seek justice, speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves, serve one another, and deliver His message to a world that needs to be reconciled to Him. Godly confrontation is far more effective than complaining (which solves nothing.)
Instead of grumbling about the plethora of problems this world provides, may we be in constant conversation with our Father, confront issues with the help of the Holy Spirit, thank Him for our many blessings, and choose to honor Him with an attitude of gratitude.
Pray: Dear Lord, You are so good, kind, and generous. Thank you for blessing us far more than we deserve. In gratitude, may the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts always seek to honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Think: “Grumbling and gratitude are, for the child of God, in conflict. Be grateful and you won’t grumble. Grumble and you won’t be grateful.” – Billy Graham
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” Philippians 2:14-15
