Monday, October 18, 2010

In Other Words--Grumbling

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“The spirit of complaint is born out of an unwillingness to trust God with today. Like the Israelites, it means you are spending your time looking back toward Egypt or wishing for the future, all the while missing what God is doing right now.”
~Priscilla Shirer~
in “One in a Million”

Have you ever been around a grumbler? You know the type of person, nothing ever pleases them. The glass is neither too full or too empty, it is just wrong. That is the type of person I think of when I hear the phrase "spirit of complaint." It is a spirit that is totally unsatisfied.

In today's quote, then, satisfaction must come with trusting God with today. I understand the intent of the statement, and the statement is not wrong, but I think it is limited. I believe a grumbling attitude comes from not trusting God, period/full stop. If we are looking at the past and grumbling about how things did not turn out the way we wished, we are neglecting to trust that God knows our past and is in it. When we complain about the things that are or are not happening right now, we are neglecting to trust God with today. When we worry about things in the future that we cannot yet do anything about, we are neglecting to trust God already has the future in hand.

Neglecting to trust God leads to worry and anxiety. Worry and anxiety lead to irritability in word and spirit. Irritability leads to complaint and grumbling. It is a downward cycle that we all to easily can start down when we take our eyes off Jesus.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
~Psalm 55:22~

These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
~Jude 16-21~

Trust him...with your past, with your present and with your future. The result is less anxiety and no reason to grumble.

Father help me to trust you today and always. I don't want to be a faultfinder. Stop my tongue when I seek to grumble. Instead help me to praise you for your presence in my life, my plans and my future. Amen.

Today's hostess is Debbie at Heart Choices. I know that you will find a blessing there when you visit.

6 comments:

Tami said...

I like the downward spiral you identify. One little step in the wrong direction will eventually lead us off track.

annies home said...

you are so right trusting him will keep us on the upward path

Debbie Petras said...

Your words are very true. I must trust God with my past, present and future. I know that He can bring good out of any situation and I'm praying for that now.

Thank you for participating today.

Blessings and love,
Debbie

Elizabeth Dianne said...

I don't want to be a grumbler either. I want to fully trust Him with today, yesterday, and all my tomorrows.

Thank you
Dianne

Karen said...

Boy did you hit the nail on the head or should I say the "grumbler on the head" describing them. I work with a grumbler and its very difficult to get anything accomplished, nothing is right to them. If we would only learn to trust God how much nicer life would be simply because we are doing what we are designed to do, trust Him.

Denise said...

Such an awesome post sweetie.