Praise & Pray

The Bible makes it clear that complaining and grumbling do not please God. In fact, Philippians 2:14 tells believers, Do everything without grumbling or arguing. This seems to be a part of the 'memo' most of us Christians forget. We complain about our neighbors. We grumble about our loved ones. And we loudly complain about politicians and grumble about our least favorite coworkers.

And if we're being honest, we'd admit that we complain and grumble about the things God is doing in our lives. Those challenges He lets us experience to strengthen our faith? Oh, we have a good tantrum about it. That person who speaks to us rudely? We don't see the incident as training to make us more patient with others. Instead, we give 'fire for fire', pettily matching their energy, then complain about how we were treated when talking to our friends.

We forget that God allows us to experience tough moments and opposition for our good. We don't always remember that He aims to make us better and more suitable tools and vessels for His purpose. We ignore the fact that His goal isn't to punish but to teach us the skills we will need for our next season. Or the skills may even be for someone else's benefit.

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However, the Bible states that God is transforming each of His children to be more like His first Son - Jesus (Romans 8:19). A Son who endured struggle and pain to bring God's plans for humanity to pass. A Son who warned all who would believe in Him that they too would face tribulations, all because of their choice to follow Him and His Father (2 Timothy 3:12).

And so, when we complain and grumble, are we not rejecting God for the very process He's using to make us more like His Son? The very process He's determined will help us better weather the storms of life? The journey He knows will equip us to be vessels unto honor that not only bring Him glory but also enrich others?

Complaining and grumbling about life are common pastimes. Still, God wants to wean us from this behavior. Hence, Him telling us to eliminate it from everything we do. As we are now conscious of that instruction, we can be more mindful of doing it less, day by day. And as we pray in Jesus' name for God's grace and guidance, His Holy Spirit will help us with all we struggle to stop doing. After all, He said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

And God is faithful to help us. In due time, we will learn to state the obvious about situations without devolving into complaints, grumbling, resentment, and other kinds of communication that God warns against. We'll speak less like the world and more like the Kingdom we belong to. And this won't mean that we won't see the issues and problems that once caused us to speak in an unrighteous manner. Instead, we'll be well armed to pray and receive wisdom on how to address and solve them for the benefit of ourselves and others.

To learn more, please read:

1. You are being built for the Lord

2. Imitate Good

3. For My Own Good?

4. Consequences of Rejecting Jesus

5. The Lesson in Repeated Patterns

6. Don't Grumble & Don't Complain

7. Complete Respect - 1 Peter 2:17

8. Hypocrites

9. Topic: Suffering