Think about what you say when you talk to yourself. Do you ever grumble? If so, about what?
“Yes, petty annoyances.”
According to Philippians 2:3, how much are we permitted to do from selfishness? “nothing”
Rather than out of selfishness, we are to act with what? “humility”
- In Numbers 11:1, they complained about “hardship”
- In Numbers 11:4-6, they complained they lacked “food”
- In Numbers 14:1-4, they complained they were “doomed to disaster”
- In Numbers 20:2-3, they complained over no “water”
- In Numbers 21:5, they complained there was no “bread” and they hated the “food” God had provided.
Are your grumbles more justified than theirs were? “no” Explain your answer.
“I’m not even in a desert without electricity or running water.”
Complaining reflects a “sense of entitlement”
Oh my soul, when I choose to complain, I do it because “It’s all about ‘me’!” My plans, my needs, and my preferences are really more important than “God’s”. When I throw my grumbles into the thought closet, I plan on wearing them later as “self-pity” or “complaints to others”. When I complain, it’s really harmful, but I choose to do it anyway because “it makes me feel better momentarily”. So, soul, make room in the thought closet for my grumbles by pushing out “joy, optimism, and compassion for others”
Sincerely, “Rachel” (your complaining companion)
In Philippians 2:14, Paul distinctly commanded us to “do all things without ‘complaining’ or ‘arguing’.”
In verse 15 we see the results of having no complaints going in or out the door of our thought closets. What are they?
“We become blameless and pure and shine like stars.”
Write statements of gratefulness you can say to your soul to replace grumblings.
“I still have my health.
“At least it’s not raining (harder).
“I am richly blessed.
“People love me (Also, of course, Jesus loves me).
“I am special. I am beloved.
“Life is good.”
Write one verse here on which you will meditate to help direct what you say to yourself today. Let it, not your complaints, be the last truth you review in your thought closet tonight.
“Jeremiah 32:17 (♪‘Ah, Lord God, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power…’♪)”
Dearest Rachel –
From a certain angle, I should probably be saying much the same things you proposed to do in an effort to eliminate grumbling. Thanks to you, I was – and I suppose still am – richly blessed (like one of the shirts on your ‘creed’ quilt reads, “My husband is a rich man.” Granted, that’s meant to refer to richness in faith and the love of you and Daniel), and life is good in many ways. Even the things I might complain about are beyond my, or anyone else’s control, so there is no point in grumbling or complaining about them. And I try to remind myself that in many ways, you’re in so much of a better place now that you wouldn’t want to return to us even if you could, and I would be selfish to wish otherwise.
But it’s difficult to imagine the rest of my life without you. Which means I’m dangerously close to slipping into self-pity of my own, which is no more appropriate for me than it was for you when you wrote this. I have no more right to complain to God about this than the likes of Job; at least I know where you are, and that I’ll see you again, thanks to His sacrifice and our shared belief that it serves as our entree into heaven.
It’s just that… it’s an awfully long time to wait for that to come to pass.
So until then, keep an eye on me, and wish me luck; I’ll need it.
Letters to Rachel 