Verle Bell M.D.
[Originally published as Fussing]
A Russian comedian, newly arrived in the US, noted that we complain about the weather, the government, the roads, our jobs, our families, our food, then we call it happy hour!
God’s opinion on food-fussing may be found in his response to the Israelites in the wilderness: “Manna, Manna, Manna” they complained. God was providing around two million people with daily free food, shoes that never wore out, tents that never wore out, protection from their enemies, freedom from forced labor, healing all their diseases, and the list goes on.
Then they complained about the boredom of it all. The blessings they were complaining about were the result of their own rebellion and refusal to enter the promised land. God wanted them in a land flowing with milk and honey, but they had refused to go and now God was kindly continuing to feed and clothe them.
God’s Response?
He sent snakes to bite them until they stopped whining and looked to the symbol of Christ lifted up in the wilderness.
We often believe that whining over small things is OK, but it isn’t. Instead we should do the opposite.
What Would the Opposite Be?
Well, how about deliberately seeing and praising God for all the things in life. Yes, all! God wants me to remember that he is in charge of everything that comes into my life and to say thank you even when I can see nothing to be grateful for.
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:19–20).
An Example of How This Works
An evangelist was on his way to meetings driving his old car with bad tires. On the way he had a flat tire. Remembering his Bible, he said,
- “Thanks for the flat tire,”
- then, Thanks for the pouring rain,”
- then, “Thanks that the spanner won’t work and the nuts won’t come off the tire,”
- then, “Thanks for letting me slip in the mud and bang my knuckles.”
Like most of us he was probably having trouble feeling thankful, but he was willing to offer his gratitude anyway as an act of worship, acknowledging that his God was bigger than all of these circumstances.
Just then a trucker pulled up and said, ”I’ll bet you’re having trouble getting your tire off, huh?” It turned out that the trucker had the same car and had eventually found out how to fix the problem, so he had the knowledge to help the evangelist change his tire.
Because the evangelist had already been practicing his gratitude, he was in a position to say, “I don’t believe in accidents, God brought you to me to help me! I just happen to be a traveling evangelist, is there anything in your life troubling you that we could talk about?”
It turned out that the trucker had been looking for truth, was open to the gospel, and was willing to receive Christ as his Savior right then and there.
