Have you ever noticed how we like to complain incessantly about the weather? Is it because it’s inoffensive fodder for small talk? “The humidity must be 1,000 percent today!” Or, “Seriously? A snowstorm on Easter?” Or is it because it’s something we have no control over, so we don’t have to work at fixing it? 

Just like us, God’s Old Testament people, the Israelites, sure liked to complain—except they didn’t complain about a freak Midwest snowstorm in April or the correlation between the humidity and a bad hair day. Even though God had performed miracle after miracle to spring them from their slavery in Egypt and then provided for their every physical and spiritual need, they still whined to their leaders: “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death” (Exodus 16:3). Silly, ungrateful Israelites!

But, wait. I’m no better than the Israelites. God has showered me with blessing upon blessing. He has even given me blessings of which I am completely unaware. And how do I repay him? I whine about everything from the weather to my circumstances to the political climate to the government leaders he has put in charge of me. Can you relate?

Let’s all pray for strength to guard our thoughts and words today. Let’s turn complaining into praise and ingratitude into awe for all God has provided for us.