These words from Paul David Tripp really struck--well, convicted--me:
"Do you live a life of blessing or complaint? It is so easy to grumble. It is so easy to find fault. It is so easy to be discontent. It is so easy to find things that are less than you want them to be. It is so easy to be irritated and impatient. It is so easy to groan and moan about the difficulties of life. It is so easy to be dissatisfied."
And all God's people said, "Amen!"
How simple--and temporarily satisfying--it can be to grumble and grip...which then causes us to give in to dissatisfaction, discontentment and discouragement.
And have you noticed that such toxic attitudes are contagious? Yeah, yeah, we've all heard the old expression, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy," but goodness, it's so true! And that's because mama's ugly attitude or grumpy disposition or irritable words tend to spread like like a noxious stomach bug. Nothing's more contagious and nothing can ruin your day more quickly!
But come on. Of course it's not just mamas--it's every single one of us! Our complaining and grumbling can infect a family, a home, a church, a classroom, an organization, a small group, a workplace...you name it.
Why is griping and grumbling such a natural default mode for so many of us? I'll tell you why. Because we're sinners! That's pretty much the unvarnished, unattractive truth. I'm a sinner. You're a sinner. All God's children are sinners.
We're selfish and prideful, and oh my, we want what we want, when we want it, and how we want it. "Me, myself, and I"--and my desires and my agenda--all too quickly become the central focus of our lives....and as I've heard it said so many times, "A person all tied up in herself makes a mighty small package." Not to mention a miserably unhappy person.
Oh forgive us Father!
But here's the thing. The Bible consistently condemns grumbling and griping. For instance, remember Moses and God's chosen people in the wilderness? They were world champion complainers--and God punished them severely for all their grumbling. "And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled..." (Num.11:1). That's just one tiny example among many.
Or how about Paul's words in Phil.2:14: "Do ALL things without grumbling or questioning." I don't see much wiggle room in there, do you?
We tend to chalk complaining and griping to a lesser category of "misbehaving"--we don't even want to call it sin. But goodness gracious, this convicted me, because it is sin, plain and simple! It's essentially shaking our fist at God and saying, "Your plans for me aren't good enough. Your ways aren't the best. In fact, I think I know a lot better than You do, Lord, the way the world should operate." Ultimately we're telling God, "You're not enough, and I don't think I can trust You."
Ugh. Not a pretty picture, is it? But unless we can diagnose our disease, we won't discover the medicine that will bring healing and hope into our hearts and lives.
Here's what Tripp says: "The joy or complaint of your heart always shapes your willingness to trust God and to do His will. Complaining forgets God's grace. It ignores His presence. It fails to see the beauty of His promises. It allows the display of His splendor in creation to go unnoticed. It questions His goodness, faithfulness, and love. It wonders if He is there and if He cares. If you believe God and His control over everything that exists, then you have to accept that all of your grumbling is ultimately grumbling against Him. Yes, it is so easy to complain. It is so easy to forget the daily blessings that fall down on each of us. Our readiness to complain is another argument for the forgiving and rescuing grace that Jesus, without complaint, willingly died to give us."
Is anybody else out there convicted? Maybe I'm the only one who needed some stern (but so beneficial!) reminding today, but it's high time we put away the complaining and start counting the blessings. Yes, this side of heaven, life is most certainly not perfect...but then neither are you or I. Life holds it share of hardships...but also it's tremendous bevy of blessings.
So what's our focus? What we lack...or all we possess? Where we fall short...or Who has raised us to new life? How we've been wronged...or how infinitely much we've been forgiven?
Are we numbering our complaints...or counting our blessings?
Are you reading these words with eyes that can see? Are you breathing? Do you have any loved ones in your life? Can you smell the fresh scents of spring? Can you hear the chatter of birds? Did you have food to eat today? Is there shelter over your head? Do you own a copy of the very words of Almighty God? Have you been saved by the Savior Who has an infinite supply of His perfect love, forgiveness, grace, wisdom, power, and peace always and ever available?
That's just a teeny tiny starter list of His relentless gifts in our lives! But the way I see it, if we'll start counting the blessings, we'll run out of time, energy, and desire to count the grumbles.
Maybe it's time to stop recounting the complaints and start recording the blessings! Starting...now. Thank You, Lord, for Your grace and Your goodness. Gives us eyes to see, lips to proclaim, and hearts that rejoice in You and Your blessings. Keep us counting the right things--gifts, not grumbles.
To God be the glory.
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