When complaining can help. Weekly Devotional- Week 8, 2006

Scripture: I pour out my complaints before God and tell him all my troubles. For I am overwhelmed. Psalm 142:2-3 NLT

Application:

How often do you hear someone complaining about another person? How often do you do that yourself? We all are guilty of it, and we get little relief from it, but we do it anyway. What if we were able to complain and our troubles were relieved? Sometimes, I get so frustrated with things that happened during the day that I just need to have alone time. While I am alone, I talk to God. Often I might say- God, why is this happening? or God, what are you trying to teach me from this? or God, what did I do to deserve this? Sometimes, God answers, but it is only when I am willing to listen. He wants to make sure that we are listening for His answer, but in order for us to hear Him we have to finish telling Him our complaints. He is willing to listen to us more than anyone else, but He wants us to be equally willing to listen to Him. So offer up your complaints to God, but when you are through complaining wait patiently for the God's answer.

Quote: If you want a deeper, more intimate connection with God you must learn to honestly share your feelings with Him.

And this is one of my favorites:

It is not the mountains ahead of us that wear us down, but it is the pebble in our shoe.

Prayer:

Talk to God today about the things that are frustrating you. Ask Him for help in dealing with those things.