the One who holds you

Psalm 139:1-12 (HCSB)

1 Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord. 5 You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. 6 This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.​ 7 Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. 9 If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, 10 even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night”— 12 even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You.

God’s perfect stance

He knows us in every state of our life ​

We are a purposeful creation ​

Ecclesiastes 12:13 When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity.​

Romans 12:1 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.​

Micah 6:8 Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God. ​

Created for obedience, praise, worship, to glorify, to be loyal, …​

We cannot comprehend our God ​

Psalms 139:17-18 God, how difficult Your thoughts are for me to comprehend; how vast their sum is! If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with You.​

Do not make up a god in your heart and mind !

Man’s response ​

Let’s examine exodus journey – ​

Journey was about God leading His chosen people​

Journey was a promise made ​

Journey was hard and tough ​

Journey was of redemption from slaves to free men​

Journey was for creating a new nation in a place that was blessed and abundant

How did Israel respond?/How do we respond?​

Quick look into the response

Exodus Journey Overview

The people complained to Moses that because of Him and His talk of a promise land, Pharaoh made things worse for them – Exodus 5:1-22. The people complained and said to Moses “let us alone” – Exodus 14:11-12.​

The people complained about the bitter water – Exodus 15:22 The people complained about being hungry; God gives them Manna – Exodus 16:1-4. The people complained about being thirsty – Exodus 17:1-4.​

The people forsake the Lord. they worshipped the golden calf. – Exodus 32:28.​

The people complained about food, the lack of meat – Numbers 11.​

Miriam and Aaron complain about Moses’ leadership – Numbers 12:1-12.​

The people complained about how difficult it looked to conquer the giants in the land so they refused to enter the Promise Land. – Numbers 14:1-10. The people complained again and wanted to kill Moses – they try to select another leader. – Numbers 14:10.​

The key leaders rebel against Moses – Numbers 16. The people complained again and they accuse Moses of killing God’s people – Numbers 16:41.​

The people contended with Moses again because of no water – Numbers 20:1-5. The people complained against God and Moses – Numbers 21:4-5.

Why is it that man needs things done his way ?

Complaining, grumbling or murmuring of man

Expressions of dissatisfaction ​

Complaining is a straightforward expression of dissatisfaction, often directed towards someone with the ability to change the situation. ​

Grumbling is a more passive, often under-the-breath expression of discontent, usually without actively seeking a solution, often with a sense of personal frustration.​

Murmuring is a quieter, more subtle form of complaint, often expressed in whispers or under one's breath, sometimes with a sense of discontent against authority. ​

Though most of the time they are interchangeable (but there is a subtle but critical difference)

Dangers of CGM

Shows a lack of trust in God – complaining against circumstances is seen as complaining against God – this is sin!​

Numbers 14:27 "How long must I endure this evil community that keeps complaining about Me? I have heard the Israelites’ complaints that they make against Me." ​

Exodus 16:8 Moses continued, "The Lord will give you meat to eat this evening and more than enough bread in the morning, for He has heard the complaints that you are raising against Him. Who are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the Lord."​

This will definitely lead us to problems – forcing ourselves out of God’s will is going to cost us ​

1 Corinthians 10:10 Nor should we complain as some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer. ​

Numbers 11:1 Now the people began complaining openly before the Lord about hardship. When the Lord heard, His anger burned, and fire from the Lord blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp.​

Does not have value towards unity and harmony in a fellowship – it does not build others up​

James 5:9 Brothers, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door! ​

1 Peter 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.​

Reflects what is in our heart and what we stand for – complaining reveals a heart that is not aligned with God’s will and purposes. ​

Matthew 12:34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. ​

Proverbs 4:23 Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.​

Proverbs 19:3 A man’s own foolishness leads him astray, yet his heart rages against the Lord.​

Some warnings against CGM

Whenever we find a complaining servant, we know he has not fully yielded to the master’s will. – Warren W. Wiersbe​

If Christians spent as much time praying as grumbling, they would soon have nothing to grumble about. - Unknown; Anonymous​

Ten minutes’ praying is better than a year’s murmuring.​

Murmuring is wasted breath, and fretting is wasted time. - Charles Spurgeon​

Murmuring often ends in cursing. - Thomas Watson

A thankful believer is not easily led away from Christ. A discontented, grumbling, whiny believer, however, will be easy prey for false teachers who are more than willing to offer “just what you’ve been missing.” – Max Anders

Consider a better way

Consider Job, a man who complained extensively about his suffering. Yet, his honesty with God led not only to deep conversations but also to an incredible revelation of God's sovereignty. God didn’t respond to Job's complaints with punishment but rather engaged him, revealing the depth of His wisdom and love. Through this we see how God uses our deepest pain and challenges to draw us closer to Him and teach us about divine grace; and this allows the Holy Spirit to heal us.​

Think of Jonah, a prophet who initially ran away from God's command due to his complaints about the people of Nineveh. He lamented that they did not deserve God's mercy. Yet, when God sent a storm and a big fish to get his attention, Jonah’s dissatisfaction led to repentance and a powerful revival in Nineveh. God can leverage our complaints to realign our hearts with His mission and extend grace to those we least expect.

The lamenting way

Philippians 2:14-15 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.​

A lament or lamentation is a passionate expression of grief, often in music, poetry, or song form. The grief is most often born of regret, or mourning.​

A lament is a prayer expressing sorrow, pain, or confusion. Lament should be the chief way Christians process grief in God’s presence.​

To lament is to cry to the Lord in the midst of pain and suffering from the foundation of God’s sovereignty, goodness, and promises. It points to the distance between how things are and how they might be if God’s kingdom were fully and finally realized. It starts moving our trust level upwards with our Father.

Values of Lamenting

Builds up our trust in God and renews our confidence in Him​

Helps us find meaning in suffering and moves our mental state from loss to hope ​

It helps us praise God when things are unsalvageable ​

It helps us empathize and participate in the pain of others​

Allows the Holy Spirit to heal our lives​

Builds in us a spirit of gratitude

Some encouragement to change our approach

Instead of complaining about what we don’t have, let’s enjoy what we do have and thank God for it. – Warren W. Wiersbe​

Jonah went on to argue with God by complaining about God’s goodness! – Billy K. Smith; Frank S. Page​

Instead of complaining that God had hidden Himself, you will give Him thanks for having revealed so much of Himself. – Blaise Pascal (French Scientist, Polemicist and Christian Apologist)

A portion to strengthen us

Lamentations 3:19-26 Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed. Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the Lord.

Summary and Applications

Complaints cloud our vision and our focus on God​

CGM are sins because they are self-centered and makes us question God’s will ​

Empathy comes from a heart that knows God​

We cannot lament if we do not trust our Father ​

Lament is worship and it heals and leads us to understanding the grace of God​

Lament arises from realizing we are not yet in the perfect state He has prepared for us​

Grow by trusting and knowing the One who holds you during good times and the bad