By Andrea Merrell
Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord;
for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused.
So the fire of the Lord burned among them,
and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp. .
Numbers 11:1-2 NKJV
Nobody likes a complainer. You know, those who bellyache about their looks, job, the weather, the government, their friends … and just about anything else you can think of.
When we complain, what we fail to realize is ... God doesn’t like it very much either. The Bible tells us that when the children of Israel complained “it displeased the Lord.” It got His hackles up and he rained fire into their midst.
We all have adversity to some degree. It might be health or family issues. Sometimes it's the consequences of poor choices. Many times it's relationship or job related. Or it may be something we’d like to change about ourselves.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve griped, moaned, groaned, and complained about people, situations, and circumstances—some trivial and some major. A few were within my control, but most out. All it’s ever gotten me is a case of frustration and a spirit of discontent.
Sometimes things can—and should—change. This is when our faith-based prayers come in. The Bible tells us not to worry about anything, but to pray about everything (see Philippians 4:6). But when it gets right down to the heart of the matter, sometimes it simply is what it is. There are things we can’t change. That’s when we—like the apostle Paul—need God’s grace to get us through.
The old song says, “Count your blessings; name them one by one.” I’ve found when I do just that, adversity is swallowed up in God’s mercy and grace. When I fully realize how blessed I am and how much I have to be thankful for, my attitude changes and it’s easy to stop the bellyaching.
Try counting your blessings and stop your bellyaching. You’ll be glad you did.
(Photos courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/Stuart Miles/imagerymajestic.)
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