Some things come very naturally to us. I have a friend who is a natural musician. It really makes no difference what instrument you give him; in an hour he will be playing it close to fluently. Maybe you’re a natural sportsman, singer, chef, baby whisperer, or animal whisperer; either way, it doesn’t take a great deal of effort, you don’t need to practice, you just pick it up and do it without a problem. There are some things that come natural to a few; there are other things that come natural to all. One area of life that comes naturally to all of us, from the youngest to the oldest, is the natural ability to complain about pretty much everything. Whether it’s the weather, the wife, or the workplace, we are all natural experts at complaining about them. Sadly, since the fall of humanity, complaining and murmuring have been a natural aspect of the human heart.

The Scriptures are filled with examples of the naturally complaining spirit of the fallen human heart. Adam and Eve’s actions meant they effectively agreed with the devil’s complaint that God withheld the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Cain complained that God had accepted Abel’s offering but rejected his. The nations complained about being told to fill the earth, so they gathered and built the tower of Babel. Abraham complained about not having a child, so he took Hagar as his wife. Israel complained about pretty much everything under the sun while in the wilderness. Peter complained about Jesus going to the cross. The Corinthians complained about Paul’s preaching and apostolic authority. And the list goes on!

Are we any different? Do we not find ourselves quickly complaining about our finances, our health, and our families? Do we not look at others and then complain that our lives are so grim? Like the Israelites in the wilderness, do we not look at our present situation and murmur against God? I think we all must acknowledge that a bitter and complaining spirit is ever before us. The question we must consider is why? Why are we so prone to wander into complaints?

The primary reason we are given to complain is because we are forgetful. We forget what God has graciously and lovingly given us and therefore we murmur and complain against him. Take the example of the Israelites. The Lord had delivered them out of Egypt through mighty works, he had led them safely through the red sea, he had fed them in the wilderness with bread from heaven, he had sent his angel to lead them safely through the wilderness, he had given them water from the rock, and ensured their clothes would not wear out; yet they complain because they forget all of these gracious gifts of God and allow false nostalgia to make them think of meat, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic, that they think they had (but probably didn’t) in Egypt.

Do we not do the same thing? How often we complain to God and others that we do not have enough money and yet we have a roof over our head, clothes on our back, and a car to drive. We complain about our health when we are struck with a sickness, though for the majority of our life we have had good health. We complain about one friend betraying us, though we have ten others who God has provided to stand at our side. We complain when the winter cold weather comes, and yet we have just enjoyed a balmy warm summer.

What is the solution to this cancerous problem of complaining that comes so naturally to us? Render praise and thanks to God for all the good He does. The only lasting solution to the temptation to murmur is to find joy and delight in the Father of lights. When we give thanks to God for what He has done, it puts our complaints into perspective. This is one thing that the Psalms are extremely helpful for. They help us lift up our eyes beyond the context we find ourselves in so that we can see the God above the storm. It is hard to complain when you are singing Psalm 147:

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre! He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry. His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat. He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold? He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow. He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 147)