Written by Angela A.

 

 

Often when we think about the topic of complaining, we only focus on the passages that specifically tell us not to complain but rather to be thankful and content.  While these passages are important, most of us already know that we should not be complaining, but either we have the wrong motive for not complaining or we complain even though we know we should not.  I want to consider together some aspects of the character of our God that give us reasons why we should not complain.  As we reflect upon several passages in relation to each truth about God, may the Lord change our hearts to become thankful and content as we grow in our personal knowledge of Him.

 

The first truth to ponder is that my God is sovereignly in control of everything in my life.  Psalm 115:3 says, “But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.”  God plans what He wants to happen and His plans are never thwarted.  Isaiah 14:27 reminds us, “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”  The writer of Ecclesiastes challenges us to “Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which He hath made crooked?” (7:13). The psalmist also states that “The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and His kingdom ruleth over all” (Psalm 103:19).  On a more personal note he adds that, “As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him . . . It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.”  These verses demonstrate that my God is in control of everything that happens, from world events to the most insignificant details of my life.  If God is in control of all of these things, how can I complain about anything without it being a personal protest showing my unhappiness with His plan for me?  Instead of complaining, God wants me to be content in following His sovereign plan as He works it out in my life from day to day.

 

The second truth to contemplate is that my God is sufficient to meet all of my needs.  A verse that most of us know is Psalm 23:1, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  Rather than simply quoting it glibly, stop and really think about what the verse means.  To paraphrase it, I could say, “Because the Lord is the One Who looks after my every need, I have no reason to complain that I want something different from what He has given me.”  When we complain, we are indicating that we are not satisfied with God alone.  We should make Psalm 73:25 our prayer each day, “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.”  God’s grace is so abundant that if we are appropriating it as we should we will never lack for anything.  This is seen in 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”  In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 God reminds us again that, “[His] grace is sufficient for thee: for [His] strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”  Paul certainly does not sound like he is complaining when he says that he would gladly glory in his infirmities.  Also Peter states that God has given unto us all things that we need when he declares, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  We ought not to complain, because God has given us everything we need to glorify Him each day.

 

The last truth to reflect upon is that my God loves me so much that He will never give me less than His best for me.  Jeremiah 29:11 speaks from God’s perspective saying, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  God then explicitly affirms His love for us in chapter thirty-one, verse three by saying, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”  Not only has God declared that He loves us, but He has also shown it by giving His Son to die for us.  Although the following two verses are usually associated with giving the gospel, they also show us just how much our God loves us.  The well-known verse John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Romans 5:8 reminds us that “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Another wonderful passage to meditate on when pondering the love of God for us is Romans 8:28-39.  Verses 31-32 question us saying, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”  When we reflect upon the wondrous love of our Lord, although we cannot begin to comprehend it, we will be so thankful and joyful that we will not see any reason to complain.

 

I pray that the Lord would use these passages to encourage your heart as much as He has mine.  As we learn more about our amazing God, we will want to praise Him so much that we will not want to hurt Him by complaining against Him.  In order to avoid complaining we must be growing in our personal relationship with God.

 

 

 

 

 

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