Let’s stop complaining and start praising the Lord
How do we respond to adverse circumstances? We can respond in a godly way or we can respond in a worldly fashion. “The walls of Jerusalem … had been broken down, and its gates … had been destroyed by fire” (Nehemiah 2:13). Nehemiah responded with faith in God: “Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem … The gracious hand of God is upon me” (Nehemiah 2:18). “Sanballat … Tobiah … and Geshem” responded in a worldly way: “They mocked and ridiculed us” (Nehemiah 2:19).
There are still two quite different responses to suffering. In faith, we can say, “You are just in these judgments, You who are and who were, the Holy One … Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments” (Revelation 16:5,7). There is also the negative reaction: “They cursed the Name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify Him” (Revelation 16:9,11).
Scripture leaves us in no doubt that the better way is the way of praise – “How good it is to sing praises to our God” (Psalm 147:1). We see that “the Lord builds up Jerusalem” and we give praise to the Lord (Psalm 147:2). This “building up” of Jerusalem is more than building with bricks and mortar. It is the gathering together of the Lord’s people, the healing of the broken-hearted, the binding up of their wounds (Psalm 147:7).
As we consider this “building up”, which is the work of God Himself, we are to “sing to the Lord with thanksgiving” (Psalm 147:7). When we choose the way of praise rather than the way of complaint, we bring delight to the Lord: “The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love” (Psalm 147:11).
Charles Cameron, better known as Charlie to his friends, lives in Scotland and is a member of the Church of Scotland. He owns several Christian blogs found at the following links:
Image by DEEPAI
Well stated man of God, we should stop complaining and start praising the Lord because it denies the all-ness, presence, power, and goodness of God—His ability to maintain the perfection of His creation. Seen in this light, complaining is a sin. Far from being harmless, complaining produces a despondent state that opens the door to aches and disease.
Gratitude and praise align human thought with the reality of God’s perfect, spiritual creation, which leads to healing, harmony, and an experience of God’s ever-present blessings.
Your friend -His servant,
Isaac Otieno
Thanks, Isaac, for your appreciative and encouraging comment. God bless you.