Complaining
Do everything without grumbling or arguing.
Philippians 2:14
Do you find yourself complaining to often, either in your thoughts or words? We all complain to some degree because we live in an imperfect world, but a problem occurs when we continue to complain about something or we have an attitude of complaining. Complaining can lead us to frustration and dissatisfaction, leaving us feeling helpless, victimized, or bad about ourselves or bad about others. If we continually complain it can leave us with an unhealthy level of stress that can affect our mental, physical, and spiritual health.
From the Word we find God is not pleased with our complaining. If complaining is the result of something not going our way, then we have taken control and become our own god. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3) The Israelites complained fourteen times while in the desert and as a result God was angry with them. And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 14:2) Then the Lord said to Moses: “How long will these people reject Me?” (Numbers 14:11) God was so displeased with the Israelites he carried for them, but left them in the desert for forty years until the complaining generation had died. Not one of these – not one of this evil generation – shall see the good land that I swore to give to your ancestors (Deuteronomy 1:35).
How do we overcome our habit of complaining? Overcoming all complaining is impossible because we cannot be perfect, but we can reduce our complaining. If we complain because something is not going our way, it can be reduced if we give God control. If we give God control he will help us to be in control, and free us from being a slave to complaining. He will guide us with his love and wisdom to overcome the problem we are complaining about. When we give God control we will notice a feeling of peace and joy that doesn’t exist if we are a complainer.
Complaining to people rarely, if ever, results in change. People don’t want to be around complaining people especially if their complaining leads to criticism and anger. Therefore step off the throne and let God handle your complaints, he has the perfect answer and all things are possible for God.
Today catch yourself when you are about to complain and give your complaint to God an ask him to guide you in his love and wisdom. Be patient as God makes changes. Jesus told his disciples they would be known by their love and not by their complaining. Complaining, frustration, and anger are not the solution, they become the problem.
Prayer: Lord give me a heart of peace, joy, and wisdom, and help me to surrender everything to you so I can overcome complaining. Help me to be free of any complaining but instead solve the problem through your love, power, and wisdom. Help me to be free in Christ and to overcome being a slave to complaining. In Jesus name, Amen