In our modern world, we are told that we must stand up for our rights. Don’t let anyone push you around! Speak out! Fight back! After all, if you don’t stand up for yourself, no one else will. However, there is a grave problem with this ideology. When it is devoid of God; it becomes merely a self-aggrandizing rhetoric that leads to hate, selfishness, and anger. Unless touched by the Grace and Love of God in our hearts, we sound like a bunch of grumblers. Grumblers may at first appear to have a message; yet, no one wants to listen to grumblers for long; because, their words become increasingly self-centered and full of hate. Whining, grumbling, and temper tantrums cause others to ultimately close their ears. At some point no message is heard.
Beyond that, the grumbler himself or herself grows increasingly more frustrated with life. Locked into an ideology built on self-worth and pride, the grumbler always sees the world through eyes of “I deserve better.” They become increasingly inept at seeing acts of kindness and grace; while, at the same time becoming less grateful for what they have. Grumblers become sometimes militants who riot with no true message or they withdraw into depression; never, realizing they are truly blessed. God, in His Sovereignty, gives great gifts even to those who do not believe. It is His gracious hand that suspends the earth in its rotation, allows the beauty of the night sky, and provides each act of kindness we meet in this world. He holds steady His Hand of Final Judgement while seeking to draw one more soul to a saving knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ.
GRUMBLERS WITHOUT AND WITHIN
One would think that those of us who have tasted of the magnificent Grace of God would never be among the grumblers; but, alas that is not the case. All too often, we who have seen the magnificent miracles of God; take our eyes off Him and focus on ourselves. We become the grumblers! That is exactly what the children of Israel did. They saw God’s might in dealing with Egyptians. He had guided them through the wilderness. His Glory shone before them as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide their every step. Provisions dropped forth from heaven. Despite all this, they upon reaching the edge of the promised land; failed to trust God and became the nation of grumblers.
God said, “Enough!” They were then sentenced to wandering around in the desert until the grumblers had died and a new, younger generation entered the land in faith.
Numbers 14:1-4
And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. All the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: The whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! Wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? They said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
How quickly they had forgotten, in Egypt they were the SLAVES of Pharaoh.
WHAT ABOUT YOU AND ME?
We can look at the Old Testament scripture and see how almost comically foolish these people seemed; however, look deep within your own heart and you might recognize those same traits. Have you ever looked at your circumstances and worried? It appears that giants are before you and you doubt that God will provide a way? Or have you ever deep within your spirit thought God had not been fair? He did not give you what you had so desperately desired. You had sacrificed, worked hard to please Him, and had waited patiently; but, He had not responded as you thought He should. Instead trials and sorrows had laden your path. Did you murmur and complain? Did you become the grumbler? I must confess, I have and sometimes still do; but, I am learning to avoid this pit. Avoidance of becoming a grumbler is simple; if we only take heed.
Six steps to overcome grumbling
- Keep your eyes upon Jesus and all that He did for you.
- Never forget that God is Sovereign. He is in control of every detail of your life and He only wants the best for you. Even when things don’t look to you as good; underneath it all, God is working it all into a blessing for you. Sometimes the greatest gifts I have received from God, came wrapped in sorrow, pain, and suffering. You see, He knew that nothing would satisfy me as much as a close, intimate relationship with Him. He had to rip away a lot of counterfeit joys from my hands, that I might find true Joy in Him.
- Begin each morning in His word and end each day with His word.
- Pray to Him throughout the day with every concern or thought
- Praise Him for His goodness and loving kindness
- Keep your eyes open to see blessings; they are there all around you
Colossians 2:15-17
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
CONCLUDING TWEETS
[bctt tweet=”The grumbler always sees the world through eyes of I deserve better. ” username=”effiedarlene”]
[tweetthis]When focused on self, we tend to complain When focused on God, we rejoice[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”With heart filled with God’s Grace, eyes focused on Blessings, joy overcomes, grumbling ceases” username=”effiedarlene”]
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
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