​From Grumbling to Grateful

Discovering God’s Goodness
​in Every Circumstance

Have you ever stopped and taken a count of how often you complain in a day? Let me tell you from personal experience, it is not a pleasant task. In fact, it can be quite shocking. First, there are numerous, minor annoyances that seem to plague daily life and provide ample temptation to grumble. For myself, it is so easy to brush off a grouchy reaction to such frustrations and say, “I’m not complaining! I’m just stating a fact.” However, if I allow the Spirit even a few moments to speak to and judge my heart, the honest truth is that I am, in fact, complaining. ​

But then there are circumstances and adversities that are truly difficult and even severe.

These trials can be short and intense or they can last for what feels like forever. When we encounter these kinds of ordeals, it seems understandable and almost excusable to allow ourselves the indulgence of complaining.  ​

​I’m not speaking of lamenting here. To put it simply, lamenting is acknowledging the difficulty of what you are facing and crying out to God for comfort. Not only is it not wrong to lament, but it is also good and right to do so. It gives honor to God because it demonstrates our dependence on Him, clings to His perfect character, and trusts that He will sustain us. Therefore, lamenting can only be born out of a humble heart. ​

On the other hand, complaining also acknowledges the hardship and suffering, but it refuses to trust God and seek shelter in Him. Complaining dishonors God because it accuses Him of being unwise, unloving, and unable to prevent such calamity from coming into our lives. It assumes that self knows better. In short, complaining always springs forth out of a prideful heart.
 
Whatever we are facing, be it mundane or major, slight or severe, the call for believers is the same:

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:14-15)

When we encounter hardships, wherever they may land on the spectrum of suffering, and we persevere and entrust ourselves to God’s care without complaining, we shine the light of the Gospel to a needy, dying world.

​In recent weeks, the Lord has been speaking to my heart on this matter. As I have searched God’s Word and pondered its truth, there are two verses in particular that have resonated with and challenged me.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” (James 1:2)

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Not only am I to avoid any form of griping and grumbling, but in its place, I am called to pursue joy and gratitude. How is this possible? It is because even on the worst days and even during the hardest of circumstances God is still good. And His goodness not only touches all that we face, but it is also woven into it. With every burden we bear, He also gives us countless blessings. 

So, I started making a list of all the trials, difficulties, and events of this past year that have tempted me to complain. I wanted to search out God’s goodness in each one with the goal of putting off a complaining spirit and putting on one of joy and thankfulness. I wish I could say I was not surprised to see God’s blessings so very present in each and every circumstance, but I was. Once I purposed to see His goodness, it was difficult not to see it in abundance. I would like to share just a few of them with you.

1. My Dad’s Passing
   As I wrote in my last post, Three Lessons From the Path of Grief, this was a dark and difficult time for me. But when I look back, God’s gracious gifts are evident throughout. Primarily, I see how God used people to show me His kindness and faithfulness. I had loving friends who regularly checked in on me and encouraged me. My husband and I grew closer during this time as well. He loved me and ministered to me in so many ways. God used others as His messengers to show me over and over that, I was not alone. I was not forgotten, not by them and not by God. He sent His comfort to me in countless ways, and people were one of the greatest and most tangible ways He did this.​
   ​
2. The COVID Pandemic
   I have been tempted (and guilty) of complaining about the ramifications of how this virus has affected life as we’ve known it. Like many, we experienced not being able to go to church in person for months, not being able to visit with family and friends, loss of income, feeling isolated, and so much more. But as I pondered over the past several months, I can clearly see numerous blessings God gave us both in and because of the pandemic. One of the biggest blessings for my family is that we have had so much more concentrated family time. We’ve had time to go for long walks, have meaningful conversations, cook meals together, play together, and so much more. For all the turmoil that COVID has brought, for us, it also brought the blessing of simplicity. All the activities we busied ourselves with and all the ways we could so easily distract ourselves before were stripped away. As a result, we’ve become less hurried and more intentional. In the past, I would often bemoan the fact that life always felt so rushed, and I thought wouldn't it be nice to slow down and have more quality time for our family to just be together? It definitely didn’t come packaged the way I thought, but God has given us that time. Even though there have been and still are very hard things about living through this pandemic, God has been so good to gift us with this time to slow down and focus on family.
   
   
3. Loss of Income
   My husband’s job was one of many affected by COVID. It took three months for him to find a new job. This was often a fearful time for us, but I can plainly see it was also one of growth and blessing during this period of waiting. God taught us to depend on and trust Him. Additionally, He overwhelmingly provided for us. There were quite a few times we received anonymous cards with money from people who were praying for us. And as I mentioned before, we had more time together. My husband and I were able to reconnect and spend time together in ways we haven’t been able to for some time. He and our daughter were able to spend so many days playing with each other and exploring outdoors, instead of saying goodbye as he had to leave for days on a work trip. When God did provide my husband a new job, we looked back on the many weeks we prayed and waited, and we knew God had graciously given us the gifts of time, togetherness, and faith-building we would not have had otherwise. 

There is so much more that I could share but the theme is the same. In every circumstance, God loves us well. There are always blessings in times of trouble, many of which we would never know if we had not encountered the storm. It is through hardship and difficulty that God teaches us and grows us. It is by disturbances to our way of life that God gains our attention and shows us His kindness, faithfulness, and goodness.

​One of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis said it best:

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains.” 

God is always good, but many times it takes me traversing a dark valley to see His light. I often fail to notice His sustaining grace when all is well. And sadly, my first reaction when I encounter a rainy day or a season of suffering is to complain.

​Whatever you are facing today, let me encourage you to take a few moments to do three things that have changed the way I’m looking at my circumstances.

• Ask - “What is God teaching me?”
• Believe - “God is still good and He is blessing me even now!”
• Challenge Yourself - “I will not complain but rather choose joy and be grateful!”

As we face frustrations and trials, let us not grumble. Instead, we must “count it all joy” because, as James reminds us, “the testing of [our] faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that [we] may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:3-4).

​God uses both the trivial annoyances as well as the deepest of sufferings to expose our hearts, to call us to dependence on Him, and to grow us in our faith. And while He is doing this, He not only sustains us, but He also graces us with blessings and kindnesses as reminders that He is faithful.

Therefore, with humble hearts, let us accept with thankfulness whatever God gives because we are assured of His perfect will and goodness.

“Because His goodness endureth forever, we ought never to be discouraged: ‘The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knoweth them that trust in Him’ (Nahum 1:7).” - A.W. Pink

Remember to ask yourself today, “What is God teaching me?” Chose to believe “God is still good and He is blessing me even now!” And challenge yourself with this—“I will not complain but rather choose joy and be grateful!”