We all have days that don’t go exactly how we planned them. Difficulties arise that we weren’t expecting, tasks must be completed that weren’t on the to do list, messes are made that require clean up…
[Tweet “The truth is that no one ever has a perfect day, no one’s day follows their plan perfectly. “]
How do you handle these days? When life seems to have a wrench thrown into it, what is your reaction to the unexpected?
I don’t handle these days well. I am OCD OTT planner by nature and when my day veers off course, I begin to stress out as I realize my to do list will not be completed in order, if at all.
Some days we find that we are lacking something we need or that we believe we need. A menu item is not found in the pantry, an hour of quiet time to write in solitude, alone time with your husband without your kids interrupting your every spoken thought, a friend to have coffee with and chat about the events of the day, an understanding ear to listen to the fears you’ve expressed to no one, not even God Himself…
What do you do when you find yourself in need of something, but can’t do anything about it? How do you respond to not having it?
All too often I find myself complaining.
Yet, who am I really complaining to?
If I’m honest with myself, I’m complaining to the Lord. In His word there is a promise from God that says I will have everything that I need and when I complain I’m telling Him that He forgot me…that He didn’t keep His word…that He forgot to give me what I needed.
Philippians 4:19, “…my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
God doesn’t forget me. He has promises in the Bible for that too.
Isaiah 49:15, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”
Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Over the last few weeks through Good Morning Girls we’ve been reading through the book of Exodus.
The Israelites have just been saved from the Egyptians, they’ve seen God work miracles through the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the cloud and the pillar… Then they arrive in the wilderness. They’ve left everything they’ve known behind and they’re probably afraid of the future…the unknown.
When they find themselves without water or food, instead of praying and asking God to provide for them, they complain. They don’t go to God in prayer complaining, they bring their complaints to Moses. The very man that God brought to Egypt to use in saving them is now hearing their complaints.
Yet, God hears all things and He heard their complaints. He responded to them by providing manna from heaven every day. Even though the people of Israel were complaining to God, He continued to provide for them.
When Moses told the people of God’s upcoming provision of manna, he told them that God had heard them and that they weren’t complaining to him or Aaron, but to God Himself.
After reading this passage this week, I began reminding myself often that though I may be complaining to someone else, that in all honesty my complaints are to the Lord because of His promises to me.
Who do I think I am that I question and complain what I have or don’t have when God promises to provide all that I need and never forget me?
I challenge you to join me in striving to go to the Lord in prayer when you feel like complaining and instead thank Him for His provision and presence in your life today and every day.
[Tweet “I believe that we will be at peace in our days when we stop complaining and turn instead to prayer. “]
I’m Blogging Through the Bible with Courtney from Women Living Well, Bridget from Becoming a Godly Wife, Mandy from Women of Worship and Rosilind from A Little R & R as part of the Good Morning Girls Bible study group. Every Friday you’ll find us sharing our thoughts on the study at Courtney’s corner where she is hosting a link up for all bloggers that are studying along with her!
Check out the other Good Morning Girls’ posts below. Bridget (Her past GMG posts are here), Courtney (Her past GMG posts are here), Mandy (Her past GMG posts are here) and Rosilind (Her past GMG posts are here). My past Good Morning Girls posts are here.
Are you following along with the Good Morning Girls or are you studying something else in God’s word? I’d love to hear what God has been speaking to your heart! I’ll meet you in the comments! I would love to hear what God has been speaking to your heart! I’ll meet you in the comments.
