Why do we complain? Whining is a way for us to express our displeasure, our dismay, our disagreement, our disappointment, our dissatisfaction. We often moan about things we can do nothing about, which then leads to a habit of whining about things we could do something about.
And what does whining accomplish?
Whining has many unsurprising consequences:
it puts us in a negative frame of mind,
it is depressing or discouraging to the people around us,
it presents a negative model to our children and others we would want to influence,
it solves no problems and it eats away at our trust in God.
Each of us will be faced many times with unpleasant circumstances. How we respond is our choice. We can whine or we can choose a more positive approach.
There are two attitudes that are especially helpful in transforming our tendency to whine into a positive response to negative circumstances.
The first attitude is gratitude.
We know that the Word of God tells us that we are to give thanks in all things: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). When things are going the way we like, that is not hard for us to do, though we do not always remember. But when things are not going the way we like, we find it much more difficult to say "Thank you" to God. When there is a major illness, financial setback, loss of a job, a difficult relationship or the death of a loved one, the words "Thank you, Lord" just do not seem to make it past our lips.
Be thankful :
"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"
(1 Corinthians 15:57).
"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him"
(2 Corinthians 2:14).
"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"
(2 Corinthians 9:15).
The second attitude is contentment.
Frequent whining is a sure sign that you are not living in contentment. The apostle Paul lists for us many reasons that he had not to be content: he was scorned and mocked. He was stoned, shipwrecked and beaten. He suffered hunger, rejection and imprisonment (1 Corinthians 9:4-13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-27). But he found the secret of contentment.
Most of us are convinced that something different, something new, and something more will be better.
We whine about our present circumstance, certain that change will bring what we desire. Yet those desires are often just temptations sent from the evil one to seduce us from trusting God. The pastures that God has prepared for us are rich, lush and satisfying.
Contentment is found when we accept from God’s hand what He sends because He is good and therefore whatever He sends is also good.
(0195) 29 June 2007