Trusting God: Overcoming Complaints in Crisis
Summary
In my sermon, I discussed the importance of trust in God and the negative impact of complaining. I emphasized that we should strive to be people who reflect deep faith and trust in God, rather than becoming chronic complainers. I referenced several Psalms that highlight the relationship between trusting in God and living a fulfilling life. I also discussed the story of the Israelites in Exodus 16, who complained during their time in the wilderness. I encouraged self-reflection on our own tendencies to complain and the circumstances that trigger these complaints. I concluded by reminding everyone that every crisis we face is an opportunity to trust God rather than resorting to complaints.
Key Takeaways:
- Trusting in God and doing good leads to a fulfilling life [ 18:33]
- Complaining doesn't help anything; it's better to trust in God [ 20:41]
- Every crisis we face is an opportunity to trust God [ 20:41]
- Self-reflection on our own tendencies to complain can help us grow in our faith [ 03:34]
- The story of the Israelites in Exodus 16 serves as a reminder of the negative impact of complaining [ 04:55]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 16:12-15 #!!06:03!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What was the Israelites' initial reaction to the food provided by God in the wilderness?
2. How did the Israelites' complaints affect Moses and Aaron?
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the Israelites' reaction to God's provision tell us about their faith and trust in God?
2. How does this passage illustrate the consequences of complaining and lack of faith?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you complained about a situation, only to realize later that God was providing for you in that situation?
2. How can you cultivate a more grateful and trusting attitude towards God's provision in your life, especially in difficult times?
3. How can you help to counter or contain complaining in your own community or group, as seen in the example of the Israelites?
4. How can you adjust your "sails" in the face of adversity, instead of complaining about the "wind"?
5. How can you demonstrate trust in God's provision in a practical way this week?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Self-Reflection
Self-reflection is a powerful tool in our spiritual journey. It allows us to examine our actions, thoughts, and feelings, and identify areas where we may be falling short. In this case, it helps us to recognize when and why we complain, and how it affects us and those around us. This understanding is the first step towards change ([27:09]).
Bible passage: Lamentations 3:40 - "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD."
Reflection: Reflect on the last time you found yourself complaining. What was the situation? How did it make you feel? How did it affect those around you?
Day 2: The Dangers of Complaining
Complaining can be harmful to our spiritual health. It breeds negativity and can lead us to forget the blessings we have. It can also distort our perception of reality, making us focus on the negative aspects of our situation and overlook the positive ones ([02:54]).
Bible passage: Philippians 2:14 - "Do everything without grumbling or arguing."
Reflection: Think about a recent situation where you complained. How could you have approached it differently? What positive aspects did you overlook?
Day 3: The Power of Gratitude
Gratitude can be a powerful antidote to complaining. By focusing on the blessings we have, we can shift our perspective from negativity to positivity. This can help us to appreciate our lives more and complain less ([24:38]).
Bible passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: What are some things you are grateful for today? How can you cultivate a habit of gratitude in your daily life?
Day 4: The Importance of Trusting God
Trusting God is crucial in our spiritual journey. It gives us strength and courage in times of adversity and hardship. It also helps us to lean on God and His family, the church, when we are hurting or vulnerable ([26:52]).
Bible passage: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you found it hard to trust God. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God in your daily life?
Day 5: The Choice Between Complaining and Trusting
We have a choice between complaining and trusting God. The former leads to negativity and dissatisfaction, while the latter leads to strength, courage, and confidence. At the end of our lives, we want to be remembered as people whose lives reflected a deep trust in God ([26:12]).
Bible passage: Psalm 37:3 - "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture."
Reflection: Reflect on your life. Would you rather be remembered as a complainer or as someone who trusted God? How can you make choices today that reflect your trust in God?
Quotes
1. "God, we don't want to be people at the end of our life who are gold medal complainers. We want to be people whose lives have reflected a deep trust and faith in you and we ask that you would help to form us and make the choices and decisions that help to form us in that way by the help of your Holy Spirit, by the inspiration of your word and through following the example of your son, Our Savior and Lord, our teacher and friend, Jesus Christ." - 27:09
2. "At the end of your life, would you rather have people say, 'He was a great complainer, he was an Olympic gold medal winning complainer, he could complain about anything' or 'She was someone whose life reflected her deep trust in God, even in times of adversity and hardship, her trust never wavered. It gave her such strength, such courage, such confidence that it was contagious.' What would you rather have people say about you at the end of your life?" - 26:12
3. "For some people, the predictability of enslavement was better than the uncertainty of Freedom with God in the wilderness. If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas. Excuses and complaining lead to whining, not winning, and it also makes it seem like you don't have any influence, you don't have any agency, you don't have any power over what's happening. Complaining and whining lead to negativity." - 11:12
4. "Trust in the Lord and do good so you will live in the land and enjoy security. That's asserting a belief that there's a relationship between trusting the Lord and doing good and living securely. This is a statement of faith. We know it's not always true, but still, the psalm asserts trusting God and doing good is the most fulfilling way to live your life." - 19:13
5. "Every great crisis we face is an opportunity to complain or it's an opportunity to trust God. We're not going to follow the proud, the arrogant, we're going to put our trust in God. We're not going to go astray after false gods. Time after time in the Book of Psalms, we have these affirmations of trusting in God and what trust does for us." - 20:41
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