GIVING THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

The Israelites were pros at grumbling and complaining. It’s easy to look at their situation and see their blatant sin. They were led out of slavery by miraculous signs, plundered the Egyptians without having to fight, got away safely by way of a sea splitting open, and were literally given bread from heaven yet they grumbled and complained. Obviously they should just be grateful. But we can be a stiff necked people even on this side of the cross.

What does it mean to grumble or complain? A grumble or a complaint is a reaction when something is unacceptable or unsatisfactory in our eyes. It seems like there are two types of situations in which we can grumble and complain. One situation is when some person is clearly to blame. Like if you suffer the anger of your boss because a coworker didn’t finish her job. The other situation is when there is no clear person at fault. This is like when you get a flat tire or your computer dies even though you just bought it a month ago. Is it valid to complain in these two types of situations?

When you clearly have someone to blame for your situation, it seems pretty obvious that you shouldn’t complain against that person. To complain about that person in your mind can lead to bitterness. To complain about that person out loud to someone else can be gossip or slander. The Bible is very clear that we are to guard our hearts against grumbling (Prov. 4:23) and we can do this by thinking about noble things (Phil. 4:8). The Bible also tells us to guard our mouths from evil by saying true and constructive things (Eph. 4:29). It is still OK to seek advice and wisdom about a situation. Sometimes we need to explain the circumstances to someone in order to seek advice and that’s OK. Also, we must be honest when asked. If a boss were to ask you about the slacking coworker, it is good to speak honestly and kindly about the lack of performance. But I think the majority of the time we resort to needless and harmful venting in these situations. This can cause ourselves or others to sin and can even hinder our witness for the gospel!

When you don’t have a specific person to blame, it can be easy to feel justified in your frustrations. Maybe you got a flat tire on the way to an important interview. Is it OK to vent about these situations? Well, think of it this way. God is sovereign and humans have free will. How this tension exists is a huge topic for another time, but how these two things can change our perspective is attainable. Is it possible that your flat tire is a trial that God is sending your way to help you grow? In that case, you could choose to get angry and yell at people and complain to your family about how terrible and unfair life is. Or, you could be sad and frustrated, but then pray for God’s help and peace. Cool thing is, He will give it. This could be an amazing moment to grow in your trust and dependence on God. It could also be a witness to your unsaved friends and family members that you share this story with. It’s a good idea to take action instead of just sitting around waiting for God to fix your problems, but our perspective should be guided by the fact that “…for those who love God all things work together for good…” (Rom. 8:28) and this should cause us not to be anxious or discouraged.

So next time you’re tempted to complain and grumble, pause to think first. Consider the building up of the saints, your witness for the gospel, and God’s sovereignty. Trust that He is working good in your life by inundating your thoughts with thanksgivings and praise and acting in a way that glorifies Him. God knows what He’s doing in these circumstances, but you never know which lives God might change through your hardships, so trust in Him.

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