Scripture
I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.
Psalm 142:2 (NIV)
Observation
It’s easy to complain. At least, for me, it is. It’s not because I have a terrible life or anything because I don’t. However, from the start of my day, I could complain. When I wake up, I’m still tired. I could complain. Indeed, after I’ve gotten dressed and headed out to my car and it’s too hot outside, I could complain. Then, when I note that I need to get gas and I see the price of gas has gone up (again!), I could complain even more. As I’ve said, it’s easy to find something to complain about without looking too far.
In this verse, David doesn’t say that he doesn’t complain. Instead, he points out that he tells God all about it. Now, in that scenario, I described where I wake up and start complaining, I’m not complaining to anyone else, but if I were, it wouldn’t be surprising if they joined me in my complaints. Yet, I shouldn’t complain to myself or anyone else if I were to complain. Instead, I should be like David and bring my issue to God.
Only God can change our situation. Still, when we lament to God about our situation, we should do so knowing that our situation is his will for us in Christ (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:18). Thus, we should ask for the grace to bear whatever we’re going through. We should also ask for the wisdom to recognize that whatever we’re going through is designed to bring glory to God. Most of all, we should ask God to change our perspective to align with his.
Life is all about perspective. Given our temporal nature, we don’t think very much about eternity. Not only that, but we are so short-sighted that we need to think beyond ourselves. For example, when I wake up and get out of bed, do I consider those who don’t have a bed to sleep in? When I go out in my car, do I think about those who have to walk everywhere? No matter the circumstance, someone always has it “worse” than you. Still, if you are saved, your circumstances, good or bad, don’t dictate your eternity. This is why we must have an eternal perspective- God’s perspective.
Then, when our perspective shifts, we can wake up praising the Lord. We can rejoice and be glad, for today is the day God has made, and he woke us up!
Application
Ask God to change my perspective and help me appreciate everything he’s done for me.
Prayer
Lord, I praise and exalt you for who you are. Forgive me for complaining about anything. Thank you for the grace and mercy you show me each day. Please change my perspective to align with yours so I can be thankful in all circumstances. Thank you for doing these things. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
