Stop Complaining

Deep within our human nature is the tendency to compare ourselves with others. I don’t need a psychology degree to know that, I just need to observe young children interacting with other kids. Children naturally compare their lives, toys, possessions with their peers, making simple assessments as to the relative value of what they have next to their friends. In most instances, these comparisons lead to a feeling of having less than others and desiring more.

The people of Israel demonstrated this tendency as they wandered in the wilderness between escaping Egypt and settling in the Promised Land. Read through the book of Numbers and you will frequently encounter examples of comparisons leading to complaining. I would suggest that the complaining is based on several false perceptions of reality. Here are a few examples:

Numbers 11:5 “We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.” After getting tired of eating manna every day, the Israelites recalled the plentiful and variety of food available to them in Egypt, neglecting to consider the backbreaking work required to earn the food. There certainly was a cost which they failed to remember.

Numbers 13:31 “But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.’” When the twelve spies came back with reports of a plentiful food supply in Canaan, ten of them chose to emphasize the giants in the land instead. Rather than remembering the many miraculous instances of deliverance as they fled Egypt, the ten failed to account for God’s power to defeat the enemies.

Numbers 14:4 “And they said to each other, ‘We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.’” The false memories of the “good life” in Egypt caused the people to rebel against Moses as their leader and return the slavery they had escaped from rather than trusting that God’s chosen servant would lead them to a new life of plenty.

Do you find yourself in a season of complaining? Are you experiencing self-pity due to false comparisons with others? Rather than looking back on your life and desiring what is in the past, focus on how God has carried you through the difficult times and count on him to do it again. He will not fail you and desires to see you flourishing by following his plan for you.

God, I know in my heart that you are for me so, when I am down, lift me up by helping me remember the many times you have brought me through challenges. Help me focus on the words of Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Throughout this day: Listen to the song, The Blessing

, meditating particularly on the words of the refrain, “He is for you...”.