Lessons on Grumbling - June, 2015

The other morning, Kim was happily spreading butter on her toast when I had a flashback to the morning, some weeks previous, when we switched from margarine to butter. To put it mildly, Kim was not happy. She grumbled and complained, sure we cared nothing about her or what she wanted or what was best for her.

I was seeing the humor in the situation when the Lord said to me, "You're just like that. I bring changes to your life because I know what is best for you but you grumble and complain because you don't like changes or to be made uncomfortable."

So, grumbling had been on my mind when I came across Exodus 16:8 in my devotions. The last part of the verse says,

"...your grumblings are not against us,

but against the LORD."

My thoughts went back to a grumbling spree I'd had a few days earlier when talking to my oldest daughter. It doesn't matter how frustrated I was with a situation, God placed me there, with that person, who was behaving in that way. In reality, I wasn't grumbling against that person. I was grumbling against the Lord.

I Thessalonians 5:16 - 18 says (New Life Version) "Be full of joy all the time. Never stop praying. In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus."

Being thankful is a choice, just as grumbling is a choice. Many times, every day, I have to make a choice whether to be thankful or to grumble.

It doesn't matter how difficult a situation is, God is in control and He has me in it. My response to the situation shows whether or not I am trusting Him with my life or telling Him how He should run my life.

Isn't it interesting that Paul's admonition to pray all the time is sandwiched between telling us to be full of joy and to give thanks. So being in communication with my Heavenly Father probably makes the choice to be thankful easier.

I need to pray more.