Monday, 23 November 2009 19:43

Week 9 - Navigating Through Complaining



For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Do everything with out complaining or arguing, so that you may become
blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved
generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. Philippians 2:13-15

Navigating through Complaining.


It is easy in our world to give into griping, grumbling, whining and belly-aching. We are conditioned by society to be negative. We are surrounded by people who have developed the complaining rant into an art form. The dictionary defines complaining as, “an expression of unhappiness, dissatisfaction or resentment, to find fault.” The word used in the King James for complaining is murmuring. Complaining is the verbal expression of the negative murmuring of our own hearts. There are times when a complaint can be valid, but complaining can also
become dumping our personal garbage onto others.


Exodus 16:2, “There, too, the whole community of Israel spoke bitterly against Moses and Aaron.”


The Israelites were characterized by their complaining while they were in the wilderness. It is easy for us to criticize them, but we are so like them. Complaining can become a habit. The Israelites faced danger, shortages, inconveniences and in the face of these hardships they complained bitterly. We are tempted to complain like the Israelites when we face danger, and inconveniences. Our natural response in the face of hardship is to whine, complain and cry out. Philippians 2:14, instructs us to not complain. God knows that our natural response is to complain and He is inviting us to live beyond the natural.


Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that you may become
blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved
generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. Phillipians 2:14-15


Ultimately our complaining reflects our relationship with God. When I complain about my circumstances I am ultimately showing my lack of trust in His control. Often the things that I complain about the most are often the very areas where I need most to surrender. Sometimes my complaining is me questioning God’s wisdom and doubting His care for me. It is too easy to forget God’s goodness and to focus on what I do not have instead of focusing on what I do have. That is ingratitude.


“If you think you know God but do not live your life in gratitude before Him, it is doubtful that you really know Him. A thankful heart honors
God. Often when we say we ‘know God’, what we really mean is that we know facts about God.” Francis Frangiapane


Complaining can become a bad habit. Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” We are not to be known for our criticism, and complaining but for our building others up. Paul tells us do do everything without complaining.... and then he tells us that to live without complaining is to be blameless and shine like stars.


Rejoice always, pray without ceasing; and in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for
you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18


During the Thanksgiving holidays we focus on giving thanks. Meditate on the verses given from Phillipians 2 and from 1 Thessalonians. Focus on the areas in your life where complaining has power. Thanksgiving that is joined to complaining sounds hollow. Stop and ask God to show you how to move from the bad habit of complaining that is depleting you of joy to the godly habit of giving thanks. Psalm 100 says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and ito His courts with praise.” The moment we begin to lay down complaining and enter into thanksgiving we are actually spiritually entering into His presence.


Now we are going to try an exercise that will give us an idea of how much complaining is part of our life. The Thanksgiving holidays are about
eating and enjoying our families. It is a holiday about feasting. This is an exercise that that would focus on a special type of fasting. I would like each one of us to pick 1 to 3 days of this week and fast from complaining.


Spiritual Excersise - Fast from Complaining


1. Sit quietly in a comfortable position.


2. Pray and ask God where you have complained today, and the complaints you have heard from others. Journal what you remember.


3. As you journal ask God where in your life has complaining become a bad habit. Ask yourself what is complaining doing for you that you invest so much energy into it.


4. Ask the Spirit to show you which day or days of the week to choose for your “fast from complaining”. Allow the fact that you are
struggling with complaining to surface. God is using this exercise so that you can shine like the stars in heaven. The exercise is not to condemn or overwhelm you. Pray and dedicate the day of your fast to the Lord.


After you fast...


5. Journal about what you learned about your heart and the hold complaining has on you. Pick one specific situation where you feel like
you failed during the fast and journal what happened. Pick one specific situation where you feel like you gained a victory over complaining and journal what you learned through that situation.


6. Offer up thanksgiving to God for what He has taught you through this exercise.



For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything with
out complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault
in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. Philippians 2:13-15

Discussion Questions for Growth Groups


No Small Groups this week!  Enjoy a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


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