A Lesson About Complaining

I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain. [Job 10.1]

Thus begins an address Job made to God.

I think I have made this complaint myself on a couple of occasions that I recall and probably on numerous occasions that I have conveniently forgotten. And I would wager a bet that I am not the only person since Job to have done so.

The more I grow in relationship with God, the more I appreciate the story of Job. The story of Job, if read with an open heart and spirit, reminds even the most studied and devout believer that life can still be quite complicated. It reveals to us that there is no "rubber stamp" diagnosis of events in our lives. 

Job and his friends were right and they were wrong. Otherwise God would not have scolded Job and then told him to also pray for his friends. There were some profoundly deep spiritual statements made in Job's story. There were also some profoundly childish and petty statements made. Every time I read the story, I am increasingly more amazed at the profundity of both.

As we will see as Job's story unfolds, Job is eventually rebuked by God. It seems the biggest problem was Job running his mouth when he should have simply kept silent. I think perhaps Job's friends should have done the same. Job's complaint, noted in 10.1 above, is a statement that probably should have been left unsaid. When Job finally repented of his festering torrent of words, God forgave him and all was restored.

We would do well to consider some of the Psalms at this point. Several of the Psalms found later in the Bible articulate similar complaints to Job's. However, I think the difference is that the Psalms that contain such complaints are far outweighed by Psalms that simply praise and glorify God. Is there a lesson for us in this? I think so.

Father, I know I share many of Job's feelings about pain and suffering in my own life. Forgive me for running my mouth in constant complaints instead of remaining silent, or better still, worshiping You for Your amazing greatness through it all! You are good and You only do good! It is nothing but pure privilege that I might praise Your name, let alone know and have a relationship with You! Thank You, dear Father!