I was probably five or six when my little children’s choir stood in front of the congregation to sing “Why Complain”. I’ve searched and searched the WWW for that little ditty so I could post a link for you guys to read. I don’t remember the entire song anymore or who wrote it but the gist was that we shouldn't complain about the things we have when there are others so much worse off than ourselves.
Why complain about your clothes and your shoes;
Why complain about your teacher and her rules;
Why complain when so many cannot run,
Why complain when you’re having so much fun.
Recently I’ve been complaining about virtually everything and being quite impatient with the Lord.
"It's not fair," I whine.
“Why haven’t you at least given me a single word on this?” I demand in frustration.
“Why must I wait?” I huff in tearful exasperation.
“Please! We need an answer NOW!” I’m no longer even pretending to be patient or content.
Over the weekend my husband and I sorted through receipts and financial documents in an attempt to get our taxes filed. I sat in the middle of our bed sorting, one by one, literally hundreds of pieces of paper (yes, we need a better filing system). I came across various items that didn’t belong in the box and I’d set them aside. That is, until I found an envelope with no markings on the outside. I knew what it was (although I’m still not sure why it was in that box). I quickly opened it.
On January 22, 2003 I wrote a letter to God per Beth Moore’s instructions. The question, “Blair, my beloved, what do you want?” I read through the pages and discovered a “laundry list” of “I want this and I want that”. I remember feeling so weird in writing it and felt even stranger reading it. After I moved past how discontent I sounded I began to notice that God faithfully answered many of my “wants” over these last two years. I certainly didn’t deserve for my requests to be fulfilled but He chose to bless me. What is truly sad is that I have hardly recognized His answers to my tearful prayer that night. I cried as I read my words. How often have I complained? Far too often, and yet God still wants the very best for me and my family.
“and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 3:5b
Isn’t this letter from 2003 evidence of the fact that He hasn’t left me or forsaken me? I refolded the letter and cried some more. Some of the things on my list were very emotional anyway but I saw in black and white the need to be much more thankful. The fact that I failed miserably in that broke my heart.
I believe I have learned something from that letter though. Finding contentment doesn’t mean settling or ignoring the desires of my heart. I think turning those desires over to the Lord and determining to find joy in whatever circumstance I’m faced with will allow me to ultimately be content while waiting on God. How? Well, I believe that little song from 25 years ago says it all.
“Just be thankful for the good things that you've got. For the good things that you’ve got are for many just a dream. So be thankful for the good things that you’ve got.”