Complaining About Our Troubles

I was working on my bible study questions this morning. (Women of Faith - Cultivating Contentment). One of the questions was, "What is the difference between complaining about your troubles to God and complaining about those same things to the people around you?" This really got me to thinking and pondering and this is what I came up with. Most of our complaints are about things that the people we are complaining to can't do anything about. For example, complaining about other drivers, world events, how we look...and on and on and on. Our complaints are burdens to those around us because they have to take the time to listen to us and there is nothing they can't do about them anyway. However, when we complain to God, He does have the time to listen (He has all of eternity to listen). And He CAN do something about things. Maybe He doesn't change the circumstances we are in, but sometimes He does change our heart. Maybe He gives us the ability to be gracious to other drivers, maybe He prompts us to do something to change the world, maybe He encourages us to lose a little weight and take care of ourselves. I think in our subconscious we realize that when we complain to God that He might ask something of us. Maybe that's why we like complaining to others, because they will complain right a long with us and never challenge us to make necessary changes.

Heavenly Father, I pray that you will help silence my tongue when I want to complain to others. Remind me to complain to you instead. You have the time to listen and the power to change situations and/or to change me. Thank you Lord for being so patient with me and so willing to listen to my words. I pray that my heart will be receptive to the changes you would have me make. In Christ's Name I pray. Amen.