by:  Cris Corzine-McCloskey

I’ve had a rough couple of weeks! This morning I was at the dentist, so I have a face full of Novocain as I write this. Last week, I pulled my back out so badly I ended up at urgent care getting shots in my booty. And last night, I rubbed my tired, itchy eyes so hard I gave myself a shiner. I look and feel like I got hit by a truck, and I haven’t been courageous. Truthfully, I’ve done some Class A complaining. Not surprising, the more I’ve griped, the more I’ve found to gripe about!

Complaining becomes a chronic, self-feeding cycle, and as yucky as it is, there is a part of me that loves griping and grumbling. Bet you do too. That’s because complaining lurks in our fallen nature. When we whine, we are speaking in our native, pre-born again, tongue. Worst of all, moaning never glorifies God. It glorifies us! It says, “Look at me, I have a problem and need your attention.” Plus, it reinforces the power of our difficulties.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I don’t need any help knowing how to walk through this life feeling hurt. What I need is help to learn to walk through life as one healed and victorious in Christ. I need praise to be my native language because praise says, “Look at God, He’s so good He deserves your attention.”

The Bible says, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God” (Philippians 2:14-15). Turn that verse around, and it could say, “When you complain and argue, you sound like a jerk and cause harm to yourself and those around you.” This world has enough problems without us adding our griping to the deafening noise pollution around us.

Luckily, Thanksgiving is right around the corner! I believe Thanksgiving gives us all a chance to hit the reset button and start remembering all we have to be grateful for. And I don’t care how much of a freak show 2020 has been; we are still so blessed! “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us!” (Romans). So, as a conqueror, talking about problems is like putting tinfoil in a microwave. It violates the manufacturer’s instructions and creates a horrible mess.

Personally, I’m done with whining and want to get to some worshiping. As Joyce Meyer says, “Praise and be raised or complain and remain.” I choose to praise. In honor of Thanksgiving, I want to share the lyrics of my favorite praise song. It’s by Jenn Johnson of Bethel Worship, and it’s entitled The Goodness of God:

I love You, Lord, For Your mercy never failed me. All my days, I’ve been held in Your hands. From the moment that I wake up, Until I lay my head, Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God. And all my life You have been faithful, and all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.

I love Your voice, You have led me through the fire. And in darkest night, You are close like no other. I’ve known You as a Father, I’ve known You as a Friend. And I have lived in the goodness of God! ‘Cause Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me. Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me. With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now, I give You everything. And all my life You have been faithful. And all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, Oh, I’m gonna sing of the goodness of God.

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3 Responses

  1. What a powerful blog. Challenging Truth and Thanks-living. The mercy of God refuses to allow deception!! Because Truth Lives, I appreciate your candor!!! Gracious is our Father God in realigning our focus to Christ Jesus and away from ourselves! Awesome is He in this journey to give us such blessed revelation evening while stumbling over lessons.

    David proclaimed -Although I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death – I will fear no evil BECAUSE THOU O GOD ARE WITH me!! Which says to me he that recognized fear but was ever learning by Grace, not to lend time to it because someone greater – MUCH GREATER – GOD ALMIGHTY WAS WITH him!! And he had an invitation from GOD as well – at GOD’S GREAT TABLE – where the enemy of diabolical fear would be seated to watch THE GOODNESS OF GOD!!

    TRUTH be told!! TRUTH push through and give birth to songs that proclaim The Goodness of THE LORD!!!

    Powerful blog!!!

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