Whining Is My Day Job, Hobby, and Retirement Plan

There were many things that kept the Israelites out of the promised land, or I should say delayed the promised land. One big factor was their propensity for complaining. In other words, they were whiners.

Numbers 14:11 says “'And the Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? Will they never believe me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them? ‘“

Why was God so miffed at the Israelites? Well looking at the previous chapter and chapter 14, they had just scouted the land of Canaan, the promised land. 12 scouts went in and only 2 came back with a good report. The land was flowing with milk and honey, it took 2 men just to carry some big ol’ grapes! But…there were giants in the land, so the people complained. What more did God have to do to prove to these people He could handle it? Didn’t He just part some seas, give water from rocks, and rain down food like Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs!

Actually they might’ve gotten that book idea from God :)

Complaining is exasperating. If you’ve ever been around someone who has taken up complaining for a hobby, you can literally feel the life being sucked out of you. You are happy go lucky in the beginning and then your shoulders begin to droop. By the end is there anything worth being happy about? Complaining is like pulling clouds over the sunshine.

The children of Israel just didn’t get it. They had mana in one hand and the other hand in a fist towards heaven. Complaining causes us to overlook, not acknowledge, or hold in contempt the provision we’ve already received. Complaining only sees what we still don’t have and not how blessed we already are.

Earlier I was on Instagram and read an awesome post by @jonmcreynolds about this issue of complaining. It was so timely because it was the catalyst for my fast today. Yesterday I kept hearing God say to fast but, I really was at a loss for what to fast. I’m a bit limited in the food department since I’m still breastfeeding. I wasn’t feeling to fast social media, the internet, sugar, carbs, or even TV; all things I’ve fasted before. Not knowing what to do, I fasted coffee yesterday. Today I read @jonmcreynolds post and it clicked. Fast complaining!

I’ve been dealing with an increase of health complications, a decrease in my wallet, and an increase in adversity. This sets the stage perfectly for complaining. This is the perfect storm for looking at what I don’t have and being a grumple about unfulfilled promises. That Old Testament wilderness was calling me to enter in with the negativity of my mouth. In contrast, I felt God usher me to go 24 hours complaint free! Let me get off my soapbox and say this is ridiculously hard! If I would’ve thought longer I would’ve said “No way Jose!” instead of “Challenge accepted!” But I did say yes, so here I am.

Despite the fact that it hasn’t been 24 hours yet, I’ve already noticed a change. Two specific changes actually. 1. My amount of thanksgiving has increased. 2. My amount of praying has increased.

As I am conscious about my complaining, I’ve been replacing complaints with thanksgiving. When I got frustrated that I had no access to the kitchen sink because my portable washer was attached to it, I stopped myself. Instead of being mad I have to roll out my washer, hook it up, use the bathroom sink for everything, and have limited space just to wash clothes, I thanked God I had it. I thanked God that I didn’t have to spend money we don’t have to wash my family of fives clothes every week. I thanked God that I wasn’t washing my clothes in dirty water like many in 3rd world countries. I thanked God that because I have this washer I can cloth diaper my kids and again not buy disposables we don’t have money for. I thanked God we have so many clothes.

Fasting complaining is not just shutting your mouth, but changing or shifting perspective. The more I paused and changed my perspective, the more I had to be thankful for. I was no longer angry about my lack, but thankful for my bounty. At any moment in time, I have more than a lot of people outside of America. Change your perspective.

Then there’s prayer. As I’ve been catching the whine before it rolls off my tongue, I’ve been asking God to change me. God change my attitude towards this. God even change my desires if they’re not from you. God take out the jealousy, bitterness, and envy, that I can’t be happy for someone who gets the blessing I wanted. God help me not to pull down my brother or sister because I don’t want to see them rise. God I realize that attitude is not your will and it didn’t come from You.

In closing I would love this to become a movement. I would love to see #nocomplaintsfast , #complaintfreefast , or #fastcomplaintstwentyfour trending. Not because I want attention but, to draw attention to the damage complaining can do. The spirit of complaining is damaging the gospel, damaging churches, and damaging our testimony. It’s time we become the people of thanksgiving and praise we are called to be. Repurpose your mouth from an instrument of whining into an instrument of praise!