I have been encountering a ton of this on facebook lately and thought it was time for me to come clean.
I cannot stand the way us Christians (particularly women) feel it's okay to post complaints on facebook in well disguised forms. If we believe God is always at work, we should not complain - the bible commands it! Philippians 2:14-15 - it ruins our testimony!!! And facebook is a prime place for others to gain opinions from.
I'm trying to be gracious, and assume that many who are complaining do not realize what they are saying. Here are some examples of what I think qualify as complaints:
- "Dear (insert whatever, whoever), you are making me miserable, please stop! Me."
- "Today has been awful - thinking positive and hoping tomorrow is better."
- "Why does life always have to be this way?" Or, anything referring to situations continually being bad or simply not what they prefer.
- Pretty much any post with an "ugh", "sigh", "err" or a generally negative tone.
Maybe the second one there has some of you thinking I'm being a little harsh. But let me explain. Simply hoping for better circumstances or saying "but Praise God" doesn't allow you to complain about other things! Just by saying "but God's in control" does not make it okay to spill all your discontents or vices. Does that make sense?
If we really believe that God is good and gracious, and if we are truly seeking His will (not our own) then it really becomes difficult to be an authority on your personal circumstances enough to say that they are bad. God knows what they are, and I'm sure they could be a TON worse - especially if you are living in America. Let me offer some hopefully helpful suggestions.
Most of our attitude (and many of our negative emotions) come from they way we are thinking and what we are thinking about. Philippians 4:8 encourages us "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Consider how your situation is good - some days, I REALLY struggle with this. But, we have a solid eternal hope that will make having a grateful heart and mouth full of praise on these bad days worthwhile. Here are some alternative wordings for facebook posts - to keep you positive, remembering God is taking care of you, and to keep your tongue/fingers on the keyboard from complaining to others.
-"Dear unnamed bad situation today, sorry that I caved in and got upset. I know you are only a circumstance and that the Lord prevails! Me." (the unnamed is important! Don't let yourself cave into the pressure of speaking your grievances!!) Proverbs 12:16 - don't be a fool!!
- "Today was not what I planned - wondering what God is showing me and trying to not miss out on His blessings!"
- "My life is not what I planned. I desire to know that God has been and will to continue planning it and hope to trust Him more as my life goes on."
- Speak praises, stating that God is in control, that His purposes are good, that you desire to know Him, that you desire to trust Him more.
If you have been guilty of complaining (as I am also) I hope that this is not a downer for you, but a reminder that what we speak is who we are! Jesus says in Mark 7:14b-15 "Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." It's what we speak and what we do and how we treat others that determines if we are "defiled." Yes, we have all been defiled, we are all sinners, but we are to walk in freedom from sin now! No longer held to the defilement our flesh offers, but to walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and SELF-CONTROL. His Holy Spirit can make it happen!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. It seems that our culture has definitely changed the meaning of "complaining" or "grumbling" but I hope to encourage you to not succumb to it! God has such a gift of contentment and joy to offer us when we commit to not speaking words of disgrace and complaint. And He is more than willing to help us make it happen - it will glorify Him and give us an eternal reward. Plus, I bet you will be smiling a lot more because of it too! Please, either email me, facebook me or leave a comment letting me know your ideas, convictions, questions, whatever! Heck, I'll even take criticisms ;) Thanks for reading!
I cannot stand the way us Christians (particularly women) feel it's okay to post complaints on facebook in well disguised forms. If we believe God is always at work, we should not complain - the bible commands it! Philippians 2:14-15 - it ruins our testimony!!! And facebook is a prime place for others to gain opinions from.
I'm trying to be gracious, and assume that many who are complaining do not realize what they are saying. Here are some examples of what I think qualify as complaints:
- "Dear (insert whatever, whoever), you are making me miserable, please stop! Me."
- "Today has been awful - thinking positive and hoping tomorrow is better."
- "Why does life always have to be this way?" Or, anything referring to situations continually being bad or simply not what they prefer.
- Pretty much any post with an "ugh", "sigh", "err" or a generally negative tone.
Maybe the second one there has some of you thinking I'm being a little harsh. But let me explain. Simply hoping for better circumstances or saying "but Praise God" doesn't allow you to complain about other things! Just by saying "but God's in control" does not make it okay to spill all your discontents or vices. Does that make sense?
If we really believe that God is good and gracious, and if we are truly seeking His will (not our own) then it really becomes difficult to be an authority on your personal circumstances enough to say that they are bad. God knows what they are, and I'm sure they could be a TON worse - especially if you are living in America. Let me offer some hopefully helpful suggestions.
Most of our attitude (and many of our negative emotions) come from they way we are thinking and what we are thinking about. Philippians 4:8 encourages us "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Consider how your situation is good - some days, I REALLY struggle with this. But, we have a solid eternal hope that will make having a grateful heart and mouth full of praise on these bad days worthwhile. Here are some alternative wordings for facebook posts - to keep you positive, remembering God is taking care of you, and to keep your tongue/fingers on the keyboard from complaining to others.
-"Dear unnamed bad situation today, sorry that I caved in and got upset. I know you are only a circumstance and that the Lord prevails! Me." (the unnamed is important! Don't let yourself cave into the pressure of speaking your grievances!!) Proverbs 12:16 - don't be a fool!!
- "Today was not what I planned - wondering what God is showing me and trying to not miss out on His blessings!"
- "My life is not what I planned. I desire to know that God has been and will to continue planning it and hope to trust Him more as my life goes on."
- Speak praises, stating that God is in control, that His purposes are good, that you desire to know Him, that you desire to trust Him more.
If you have been guilty of complaining (as I am also) I hope that this is not a downer for you, but a reminder that what we speak is who we are! Jesus says in Mark 7:14b-15 "Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him." It's what we speak and what we do and how we treat others that determines if we are "defiled." Yes, we have all been defiled, we are all sinners, but we are to walk in freedom from sin now! No longer held to the defilement our flesh offers, but to walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and SELF-CONTROL. His Holy Spirit can make it happen!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. It seems that our culture has definitely changed the meaning of "complaining" or "grumbling" but I hope to encourage you to not succumb to it! God has such a gift of contentment and joy to offer us when we commit to not speaking words of disgrace and complaint. And He is more than willing to help us make it happen - it will glorify Him and give us an eternal reward. Plus, I bet you will be smiling a lot more because of it too! Please, either email me, facebook me or leave a comment letting me know your ideas, convictions, questions, whatever! Heck, I'll even take criticisms ;) Thanks for reading!
