Pray Instead of Talk

Have you ever complained about something, but not to the party directly responsible? 

We are masters of the subtle gripe. We find someone indirectly responsible, or someone who just has a little firsthand experience with the thing we are complaining about, and we lay out everything we dislike about it, but wrap it in a “What do you think about…?”. 

Now, the person we grip to may or may not have any power to change the circumstances, but that rarely matters. We just need to make our thoughts known. And all the better if they can’t do anything about it, because then we can complain to someone else. 

The children of Israel were super good at this. In some of the book of Exodus, and throughout the book of Numbers, we see them complaining to Moses and Aaron about things that God was doing or allowing. 

It was pretty much about everything. 

And their complaints were so deeply felt they made statements that they wished they were dead- a lot. Even when that death came in the form of a plague, or ‘back in Egypt where at least we had fish’…and were also beaten as slaves…

In chapter 20 of Numbers, Moses strikes the rock to get water from it when God told him to speak to it, and is told now he won’t go into the promised land. Miriam and Aaron also die in this chapter. 

In chapter 21 we see Israel addressing God directly for the first time- without going through Moses. God is transitioning him out of leadership. God gives them a huge victory in battle, and yet shortly thereafter they are complaining. 

But this time they complain against God first, and then Moses. 

What does this prove? It shows that no matter who was in charge, Israel would find something to complain about. That even when God Himself was leading them directly, they were not happy. They would never be satisfied.

If you have a relationship with Christ, God is leading you directly. When you complain, you are complaining against God. You are basically saying that you know better than He does, and if He would only do things YOUR way, everything would be perfect. 

But God knows our needs. We all need stretched and challenged to grow. If everything were perfect all the time, how would we learn to depend on the strength of the Lord?

How many miracles would Israel have missed out on if God hadn’t let them experience hardship? Or seemingly impossible circumstances? 

Some verses in the following passage are used out of context quite often: 

1 Peter 5:6-11
(6)Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
(7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
(8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
(9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
(10) But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
(11) To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Verses 6 and 7 are related to each other. There is a : that connects them. When we don’t bring our cares to God, we are refusing to humble ourselves. All complaining is done in pride. 

The Devil wants to devour us, and an easy way to do that is to make us unsatisfied with everything. To derail us from going to God with our concerns, with the things we are facing, with whatever is happening that we are overwhelmed by. To make us focus on the challenges and not the strength of the God who rose from the dead.

Verse 10 tells us that God is a God of grace. That we will suffer a little while, but that it will be for the purpose of maturing us, establishing us, strengthening and settling us when we learn to give those things to God in prayer. 

Trusting God’s plan is for our good and His glory means we humble ourselves enough to accept it, and walk in His strength so He can work mightily in our lives. 

Everything God does has a purpose. He is not capricious. Nothing from His hand is wasted. Let Him strengthen you, settle you, mature you-even through suffering. It is for your good and His glory.