Complaining – The Remedy
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
I heard a story about a woman who was sick and tired of her bad habit of complaining. She was so desperate to get rid of this habit that she paid a friend $5 each time she caught herself complaining. I admire her desire to be held accountable, but considering our tendency to complain and grumble easily, it might turn out to be a bit of an expensive remedy for her complaining.
The Israelites, as God's children, were accountable to God for their behaviour, including their complaining and grumbling. Throughout their hard and arduous journey to the promised land, they complained to Moses and to God. God did not take their complaining lightly. He saw this as sinning against Him and was angered by it (Numbers 11:1-3).
Like the Israelites, we all succumb to complaining and grumbling. But what is important is that we recognise this as sinning against God. When we see it this way, we will be more careful about the words that spill from our hearts, into our mouths and into the atmosphere. We will be more alert to Satan’s wiles that entice us into complaining and joining in with the complaints of others. David found the remedy for his sin against God when he was lured into the web of deceit with Bathsheba. He found the best remedy was to cry out to God for forgiveness. To cry out to God to remove the sin from his heart.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:2,10
Paid in Full
Just as God forgave David for his sins when he got entangled with Bathsheba, God will forgive us when we are lured into the sin of complaining and grumbling. He will forgive us when we come to Him with a humble heart, repent and confess our very human propensity to complain and grumble. Jesus died on the cross for us. His sacrifice brought forgiveness for our sins and our salvation. Our salvation is a gift of His grace and love towards us. So, we don’t have to pay anyone to help us get rid of the sin of complaining and grumbling. It’s been paid in full by the blood of Jesus.
An unthankful and complaining spirit is an abiding sin against God, and a cause of almost continual unhappiness; and yet how common such a spirit is. How prone we seem to be to forget the good that life knows, and remember and brood over its evil – to forget its joys, and think only of its sorrows – to forget thankfulness, and remember only to complain. John Broadus
Reflection: If complaining has become a habit, ask God to help you overcome this. He is faithful and gracious and willing to forgive you.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for dying on the cross so that my sins can be forgiven. Forgive me for sinning against You by complaining and grumbling. Lord, I repent of this. Create in me a clean heart and remove this desire to complain and grumble. In Jesus’ name, amen.
