HAPPILY Giving Up Grumbling
“Do all thing without grumbling…that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God…” - PHILIPPIANS 2:14
I treasure my God-given friendships. Some people have lots of money, but I wouldn’t take a million dollars for the times God has given me as I’ve loved others and have been loved in return. God has taken me down many wonderful paths in this that I never would have imagined when I first began my journey with Him.
One of God’s plans for me as a friend has been to encourage people to do what they haven’t done before. I’ve also had the opportunity to lead many individuals and families on many adventurous expeditions. Most often, by the grace of God, plans have worked out wonderfully. But, sometimes I have to go back to the drawing board—pleading with God to show me how to do it better because plans didn’t exactly turn out as I had hoped.
I had one such event with a dozen dear friends years ago. Their desire to be a blessing to me was so touching…but how I wish someone would have said something about their problem.
LAKE POWELL, WOW!
We were on our first trip to Lake Powell to cheaply take in some world-class house boating. It was better than the brochures said it would be!
We boated into an area that looked like the Grand Canyon, only half-filled with crystal clear emerald green water. We hiked up spectacular hidden canyons. Singing was under the stars in secluded coves surrounded by two hundred foot canyon walls of sandstone. We enjoyed great fellowship and great food. Then I decided to get creative.
“Hey let’s sleep on that beautiful sandy beach by that cliff,” I suggested, pointing to a spot from the top deck of the houseboat. Knowing some of the ladies would prefer the comfy beds on the houseboat, I added jokingly, “Try new things, be courageous!” They decided to give it a go. I was delighted.
That night over dinner, I mentioned again in a talk how important it is to persevere through unexpected difficulties without complaining. I reminded everyone with a smile, “You never know when things might go wrong. We’re in the wilds, not a luxury hotel.” I wasn’t referring to any particular problem—I was just preparing them for unexpected difficulties which might occur later in the trip. We didn’t have to wait too long.
BIG WHOOPS
That night, after some fantastic singing and a Bible study, we climbed off the houseboat and spread out in the sand under a cliff. It was perfect—soft sand, beautiful stars, stunning canyon walls and the moon peeking over the lake. After enjoying the quiet of the night for a few minutes I got my mats situated just right, pulled my bag over my head and fell fast asleep.
About 1:00 a.m. a fierce wind sprang up. It blew fine gritty dust everywhere. My friends woke up and were blown on mercilessly for the next five hours. They had sand in their eyes, sand in their bags, sand in their noses and sand in their hair and ears. But not me—I was snoring away comfortably, tucked inside my sleeping bag. No one said a word. No one wanted to complain. Even though the houseboat was just 200 feet away, everyone endured the ordeal in silence.
MOANING INCREASES MISERY
When I woke the next morning and learned what had happened, I felt so bad. I knew like David must have felt when his mighty men risked their lives by slipping through enemy soldier camps that he might have a drink from the well in his hometown. David knew he was undeserving of such loyalty. (1 Chronicles 11:17-19) So did I. My friends didn’t complain because they wanted to be good campers.
Though I wish I’d been at least informed of their difficulty, their commitment not to complain has inspired me. In Philippians 2:14 Paul tells us that we’re not to grumble as Christians. That’s not always easy, as I’m sure you’ve discovered. Why are we not to complain when it seems like we have good reason to?
A huge reason is that it doesn’t make anything better. Moaning increases misery but praise and thanksgiving to God add joy.
STOPPING GOD’S HEART WORK
Second, if we complain and grumble, we pretty much stop the work of God’s Spirit in our hearts. In Philippians 2:13, it says, “For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” That’s tremendously significant. God is able to change us and mold us when we have the attitude, “Lord, I just want to please You. I want to be a blessing to You by cheerfully attending to my duties and my responsibilities today” –rather than zeroing in on the not so great parts of the day.
Hebrews 13:15, speaks of “offering a sacrifice of praise.” In part, this means that when we don’t understand situations or when we feel frustrated, hurt or disappointed, we need to thank God that He still loves us and is still in control of our life. We can rejoice that He will do something very good because He is infinitely bigger than our circumstances. When we give this praise to God He always works in us and eventually in our circumstances.
A CONTINUAL FEAST
Third, Proverbs 15:15 says that the cheerful heart has a continual feast. That doesn’t mean you eat constantly; it’s figurative language. If we think much on what God has done and is doing, we are far more able to perceive God and also understand what He wants us to do. If we have a cheerful heart and are filled with thanksgiving and praise to God today, we enable God to break into our situations. In this way God transforms ordinary days into very meaningful ones over and over. That’s how we enjoy a “continual feast.”
So happily give up grumbling. The rewards are enormous. It’s not always easy. Sometimes it can be quite challenging. But make every effort to do so–all the time. Complaining leads nowhere but to gloominess and to pain. Cultivate cheerfulness instead. It leads to Power working on your behalf. You may endure an unnecessary sandstorm or two, but you’ll find there are many beautiful and stunning rewards in the end.
“Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.” - HEBREWS 13:15
When things get tough you may not be able to find much in your immediate surroundings to thank God for, but, if you begin to praise God for who He is and for His love for you, it will lift your heart and speed His help your way.
Don Miller
“And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.“ - HEBREWS 13:16