A
though by James MacDonald (2015-06-18) from his book, Lord, Change My Attitude: Before It's Too Late (p. 32). Moody
Publishers. Kindle Edition. (Click
on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
We are in
the middle of a season of complaining.
It is all over the place.
Now James
here in his book says, “Have you ever wondered why complaining is such a battle
when we all agree that complaining changes nothing? The reason is that
complaining satisfies our sinful natures. Complaining releases negative emotional
energy in a way that provides momentary relief from a situation or circumstance
that may be frustrating to us. That is why we find it so hard to resist.”
He then
says, “Let me be the first to say that in certain situations I really like
complaining. In fact, I like it so much that I would never consider eliminating
my complaining were it not for what I have learned about how destructive it
really is. What we desperately need to learn is how God judges our complaining
with emotional fallout that makes our lives like ‘a dry and weary land where
there is no water’ (Psalm 63: 1).”
Another way to say it is a wilderness.
Now one of
the main areas that we complain about is adversity.
James says, “But
hear this: Every one of us has a measure of adversity, and God Himself is the
one who measured it out. And for that reason, every person has something in his
or her life that God doesn’t want to hear complaints about. Instead of
rejoicing in all the good things that God has done in our lives, we complain
about that one thing— whatever it is. You say, ‘But it’s hard.’ I know it’s
hard. It’s hard to live with adversity and it’s hard not to complain. But
listen to me. Hear this pastor’s heart. You are forfeiting the grace that could
help you through that trial by complaining about it. All the grace and strength
you need to experience joy and victory is available to you, but by choosing to
complain, by clinging to the idol of a perfect life… You are flushing away the
grace of God.”
He
continues, “As Jonah wrote, ‘Those who worship false gods turn their backs on
all God’s mercies’ (2: 8 NLT). Is that your worthless idol, your false god? Do
you feel you are entitled to a perfect life, one without adversity? Realize
this: That very adversity that you so often complain about is the thing God
wants to use to keep your heart close to His. In His grace, He grants adversity
to bring us close to Him.”
So are you
now seeing the problem with complaining?
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