Where will complaining get you?

This evening I read a chapter from “Keep A Quiet Heart” by Elisabeth Elliott called “Where will complaining get you?”

As I reflected on what I read, I thought of my own struggles, trials I’ve gone through, and times I’ve taken them to God in prayer–yep, complaining. For a fraction of a second, I began to defend myself, thinking of when Jesus prayed, asking, “if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” But was that a complaint? No.

He was asking God to take away a trial. One that He didn’t even deserve, one that He underwent anyways, even to the point of death.

We will have trials too. Some temporary, some lifelong. Though we can take them to God–even ask for Him to take them away–we should not complain of them. To be sure, nothing good comes of it. We are only hurting ourselves.

Challenge yourself to not complain–ever. It not only affects yourself, but those around you.

I pray that God helps me discern the difference between asking that a trial being taken away, and complaining about it.