When you complain, you’re saying you don’t like God’s timing, his plan, or the way he does things. So, if you think complaining is not that big of a deal? The Bible says otherwise.
SHAUNA: Hi, I’m Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada Sharing Hope. And Joni, you’re such an inspiration. Are you ever tempted to complain?
JONI: Oh yes I am Shauna. And I’ll tell you, I could complain about the way my voice sounds right now. It started back in the spring when I was hospitalized for 21 days for double pneumonia. I’m sure our listeners can hear the residual effect from my lung infection. And that was bad enough, but the extended stay in the hospital also left my right arm thick with lymphedema. Now, some of that lymphedema was related to my long-ago therapy for cancer, but I felt that this time it was different. After my lungs cleared, I was sent home from the hospital, but I also had a big, bulkier arm that was hard to lift. But then in late summer, I developed a second respiratory infection, much worse than the first. And during another lengthy hospital stay, I noticed more problems with my right arm. The doctors, however, stayed focused on the more life-threatening issue with my lungs and when that infection cleared and I was ready to be released, it was obvious my arm had suffered more damage. What few muscles I used to use to feed myself, they were gone. Even with my hand splint, I could not lift the spoon to my mouth.
And you know what Shauna, decades ago, doctors said that my partially paralyzed muscles would atrophy, and I knew that my somewhat “good” arm, as well as my lungs would eventually deteriorate. I just didn’t realize how hard it would be, losing capacity to breathe and losing my independence at mealtimes. It was a tough year, and I was tempted to complain. I mean, who would blame me if I complained? Certainly not the world, right? It’s natural for people of the world to expect an old lady in a wheelchair like me to grumble over her losses. But followers of Jesus Christ should expect more from me. Much more.
So, let me just share a few brief words about complaining. It all started [this thing about complaining] way back in Exodus shortly after the Lord parted the Red Sea. At first, everyone is ecstatic about walking through an ocean parted on either side like glass skyscrapers. With hearts bursting with joy, the entire 15th chapter in Exodus is one long praise song from God’s people. Where it says, “I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
However, just a few verses later, that song fizzled. Just three days of traveling in the desert without finding water? There they were complaining again and demanding of Moses, “What are we to drink?” It’s so ironic that they should get upset about water! I mean, God had just parted a whole sea of it. Nevertheless, God provided; he made bitter water good enough for them to drink. But then, only a couple of campsites later, there they are, putting up another stink about water. And this time, Moses replied in Exodus 17, “‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?’” And that’s the problem with complaining. Every time we grumble about things not going our way, we are putting the Lord to the test. We are saying that we don’t like his timing, we don’t like his plan, we don’t like his lack of provision, or the way he does things. So, if we think complaining is not that big of a deal? The Bible says otherwise, and friend, this week we are going to be looking at ways that we can rise above that spirit of complaining. Yes, when it comes to grumbling, I’m going to be sharing a lot of hope this week.
© Joni and Friends