People may ask, "aren't the Psalms filled with complaints? There are opportunities to complain then, right?" I want to clear this up right from the beginning. I've read the Bible over 30 times, and I have never come across a passage where God blessed complaining. It says over and over that his grace is offered to the humble. Complaining is expressed by the proud or disappointed. It is not the conversation of the confident, faithful or humble. While in its description throughout Scripture, we don't always see God striking folks with lightning. In the prescription of Scripture, we can see complaining is an attitude and an action that God hates. There is no such thing as complaining righteously. I wish I could find the passage that connects the humble and complainers as the same.
Anxiety definitely militates an attitude of complaining. Philippians 4:6 "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Passages of scripture like this are familiar to most if not all who read this. How do we put this into practice? Humility! Humility is a modest or low view of one's own importance. It's not self-deprecation or false modesty. Humility and meekness are in the same family. Meekness is displayed towards others. Humility is about oneself. The meek inherit the earth, the humble receive grace. There is no room in either for complaining.
How do the humble handle the trials of life?
First of all, I don't promote the Word of Faith's lie that if you express a concern or a reality, "I think I'm getting a cold," that your words make it happen. That is a lie that traps so many into carrying burdens alone. We know that God encourages us to get counsel, Proverbs 15:22 "Without counsel, plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed." Paul instructs God's people to, Galatians 6:2, "Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." With this in mind, we are permitted to share our struggles. However, this isn't permission for complaining. NOPE! You will continue alone if that is the way you handle the hardships of life.
The questions are, what must be avoided? How do we share and not complain? How do we come to understand what Israel never chose to obey? Throughout the Old Testament, Israel complained about the food, water, housing, leadership, and more. They did not remember the promises of God, even while he showed his power to bring them to fruition. They wanted life to satisfy their flesh. Romans 8:5-11 tells us those who walk according to their flesh CANNOT PLEASE GOD! There's no possibility. It cannot happen. The flesh always brings about discontentment. There was no righteousness in their complaints. Here is a point to consider. Their complaints were about their reality. Things they were actually experiencing. It was not that they were lying. They were sharing what they were living. Sound familiar? The problem here is that God expects those who are his to trust in his care. He's looking to give his humble children grace. Israel rarely experienced God's grace because they rarely humbled themselves.
God offers us his Spirit. There is nothing when walking in his Spirit where complaining is ever necessary. Seeing this truth takes faith and humility. God knows life is not easy. His Son walked it and gained victory over it. He understands we will experience many difficult realities. We will go through things that can break us apart from him. He knows this. His grace gives the humble instructions. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always,17 pray without ceasing,18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Did you read that? God's will in Christ Jesus, is rejoicing, giving thanks, and prayer? Absolutely. This is how the humble live. It is what keeps them humble. The proud and complainers do not pray. They cannot rejoice. The proud and complainer definitely don't give thanks. These actions come only from those who walk in humility.
Let me add more of the grace God gives the humble. So much of what God supplies for us is outlined in Scripture. It's not like we have to wish and hope he shows up. He will. He promises. He shows up for the humble.
Truths worth memorizing:
1 Peter 5:5a-6 "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"
2 Corinthians 12:9 after Paul begged God to remove his thorn, whatever it was, Paul wanted it gone. But God knew it was good for Paul. "... My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
This is key Paul didn't complain. He didn't run to tell the other disciples complaining that God was unfair or fuss that God owed him. The humble are glad, as Paul's response shows. "Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me."
No matter what you are going through. If you belong to the Kingdom of God, under the Lordship of Jesus, he knows what is good for our lives. He is refining us like gold is refined. He may not take away the issue that you find disconcerting. In exchange, he offers the humble child grace. Will you, like Paul, remember that when you set your heart on God, he sets his grace on you? Then you can know, without a doubt, that Christ's power will rest on you.
I know, in Western Christianity, that is not always enough. That may be the Israel attitude, and their consequences were long, hard, and we are warned not to be like them. We live futile lives without humility. God declares he opposes the proud. He hates complaining. He does nothing for the doubter. We are promised grace, grace, and more grace if we set our heart dials toward humility.
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