Complaining vs. Rejoicing

​“Don’t you get tired of complaining?”  How many times has this run through your head when listening to a friend or coworker?  For those moms who work or go to school outside the home and then take care of the house and family, you might be listening to complaining all day.  How easy is it to follow suit when you are surrounded by it from morning until night?

​Everybody seems to have some reason to complain today.  You might have a coworker who comes to you saying that the extra hours are unfair, the workload is too much, or their salary isn’t enough.  You go home and listen to the kids complaining about school or how they don’t like the dinner that you made.  You turn on the evening news and it is more bad reports and people complaining and protesting the latest issue.  Even at church, sometimes there is grumbling or complaining that the new color of paint is too distracting or the pastor isn’t just exactly to your liking.

The mothers here at New Beginnings are no exception.  There have been many complaints about different aspects of our program and house rules.  It breaks your heart to hear them talk about how their family gave them up or didn’t want them around so they went from house to house or the abuse that happened at home.  Lack of personal transportation seems to be another common complaint.  It is difficult to haul a stroller with baby, diaper bag, purse, and groceries onto a city bus every time you need to run out. 

---

​What does God tell us about complaining though?  In James 5:9 we are told “Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.  The Judge is standing at the door!”  Paul tells the church in Ephesus “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”- Ephesians 4:29.  

​So what should we be doing? REJOICING!  We should rejoice in what God has given us.  The worker complaining should be rejoicing that they have a job and the ability to work.  The child that complains about the food or school should rejoice to have food on their plate and an education to help them. The parents should rejoice in the blessing of having children.  So many times, others do without.  Do you not like your church?  What is there to complain about?  Rejoice that you have a safe place to go and hear God’s true Word.  The other stuff is temporary.  God’s Word is eternal.

The mothers here at New Beginnings have had rougher lives and have seen the hardships that many of us have not.  They, too, have reason to rejoice.  The complaints about the program should be rejoicing that there is a safe place to help them get on their feet and share God’s Word with them.  No matter what their complaints are about their families, they can rejoice in knowing that they are part of the New Beginnings family and are children of God.  Hauling a baby on a bus to get groceries can be a struggle but they can rejoice that they have been blessed with a child, have money to buy food, and a safe place to store and prepare the food they have been blessed with.

How do we know that we should be rejoicing?  Romans 5:3 says “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;”.  We are also told in Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!”  This last one is one to truly live by.  “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

As a final thought, I would like to share with you Romans 15:13 as my prayer for you as you continue to follow Him.
 
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Christina Pritzlaff is married with two children. She has completed Early Childhood 1 & 2 classes, Infant Toddler classes, and completed the coursework for her Associates degree in Child Development. Christina splits her time between spending time with her family and working at New Beginnings. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, camping, fishing, reading, and doing counted cross-stitch.

---