June 1, 2023
Melissa Valerio
Whenever my children ask what’s for dinner and I say “leftovers”, their eyes roll so far back in their heads I think they’re actually looking behind them. BORING, they all complain. But with a mind of frugality, I don’t care. They’re getting fed, aren’t they? Holly has no problem letting me know of her displeasure. One of her characteristics, being on the autism spectrum, is that she has no filter when it comes to communicating her disappointment. All throughout dinner she will let everyone know how unhappy she is. In regular intervals we hear “This pizza is disgusting!”, or “Uggghhh, I hate pizza!”, or “This is the LAST time you’re gonna make this.” Now mind you, pizza is one of her favorite meals, but I get it, she’s tired of the same thing over and over again. And I need to choose my words carefully, because Lord knows if I say the wrong thing, she’ll unravel even more. So, I try to explain that it’s disrespectful to complain when someone is providing for a need that you have. We should always be thankful when God provides for us and having an attitude of gratitude is far more pleasant than having an attitude of grumbling. How could anyone be sick of pizza, anyway?
This reminded me of the Israelites in the dessert when God provided manna (bread from heaven) during the 40 years of wandering. And how after eating it for so long, they complained and grumbled because they were sick of it, too. “But now our appetite is gone; there’s nothing to look at but this manna!” exclaimed the Israelites in Numbers 11:6 (CSB) Sounds a lot like my kids. But then I got to thinking, “Is there anything I’m complaining about too?” 😟
God really hates it when we complain. It’s a sin. And it’s a slap in the face to the One who is working all things out in our lives for our good. Complaining says that we’ve lost confidence in God to rule our life according to His will. Complaining questions our assurance in God. Do we really believe God is able to work out the hard trials in our lives? Do we really believe He is in control of our circumstances? If yes, then complaining about our situations is disrespectful and shows a lack of trust in Him. We should be rejoicing as Paul did when he was in prison. Even after he was beaten and put in stocks, he praised and thanked God, and encouraged the Philippians to do the same (Philippians 2:14-16). Disappointment is a tough pill to swallow. But one thing I’ve learned (in addition to freezing leftovers and spacing them out accordingly), is that disappointment does something to our character that wouldn’t be accomplished any other way. It teaches us that wants and needs are two totally different things. And realizing that God providing “enough” means just that … enough. Not necessarily what we want, but just what we need.
Prayer: Heavenly Lord Jesus, forgive us for complaining about things in our lives that do not go according to our plan. You are our God, which means You are in complete control of all things. If there are hard trials we are going through, You arranged it for a purpose. Teach us to trust You more and to always have a grateful heart for all You’ve done. Thank You!! In Your precious name, Amen.
Action: Read Philippians 2:14-16. Notice verse 15 says we “shine like stars in the sky” among the rest of the world. This means that people are looking at us when we’re going through tough times. We can be an example of Christ when the world sees us going through difficult situations with a thankful and praise-filled heart, contrary to the way many people in the world respond to trials (with much complaining). The next time you’re tempted to complain about an issue, choose instead to thank God for the work He’s doing through it. Then go have some pizza.