I Complained

I Complained

Scripture: Psalm 77:3 (KJV)

“I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.”

INTRODUCTION: WHEN FAITH GETS FRUSTRATED

My beloved Saint Thomas Baptist family and friends, when I read this passage of scripture, I’m reminded of a very popular gospel song that when it is ministered the church goes wild. This particular song is entitled “I Won’t Complain”. A minister by the name of Rev. Paul Jones is most often credited with writing the song, but it was actually written by Bishop William C. Abney. But it is mostly remembered by the rendition of Rev. Clay Evans. It’s very familiar I think you know it.

I’ve had some good days. I’ve had some hills to climb. I’ve had some weary days and lonely nights.

But when I look around and think things over. All of my good days they outweigh my bad days. So, I won’t complain.

Sometimes the clouds are low. I can hardly see the road. I ask the question Lord why so much pain? But the Lord knows what’s best for me.

Although my weary eyes, oh they can’t see. So, I’ll just say thank you Lord. I won’t complain.

Let me ask you something this afternoon, have you ever been in a place where you love God… but you’re frustrated with God?

You’re saved… but stressed.

You’re faithful… but fatigued.

You’re praying… but still in pain.

And if we’re honest, there are moments in life where the pressure gets so heavy… the burden gets so real… that instead of praise coming out of your mouth—complaint starts creeping in your spirit.

You don’t stop believing…But you start questioning.

You don’t walk away from God…But you start wondering, “God, where are You in this?”

That’s where the Psalmist Asaph finds himself in Psalm 77.

This is not a shout yet…

This is not a praise break yet…

This is a moment of raw, unfiltered honesty.

He says: “I remembered God… and was troubled.” “I complained… and my spirit was overwhelmed.”

Can I help somebody this afternoon? Even strong believers have weak moments. Even faithful people have frustrated seasons. Even those who know God… sometimes struggle with what God allows.

BIG IDEA

God is not afraid of your complaints, He uses them as a pathway to bring you from frustration to faith, from overwhelm to overflow.

TRANSITION

So, with the help of the Holy Spirit and the real preacher Jesus Christ, I want to submit for your consideration three things that happen when complaint meets the presence of God.

COMPLAINT REVEALS THE WEIGHT YOU’RE CARRYING

Asaph says, “I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.”

That word “overwhelmed” means to be covered, to be consumed, to feel like you’re drowning under pressure.

His complaint wasn’t just noise, it was a signal. It was evidence that something on the inside was heavy.

Can I tell you something? Sometimes your complaint is not about rebellion, It’s about burden.

Sometimes you’re not trying to be negative. You’re just tired of carrying what you’ve been carrying.

Supporting Scripture:

(Psalm 61:2) “From the end of the earth I call you. When my heart is overwhelmed and weak: lead me to the rock that is higher than I [a rock that is too high to reach without Your help].”

(Matthew 11:28) “Come to me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].”

Your complaint is often the language of a burdened soul.

You’ve been strong for too long.

Held it together for too long.

Smiled through it for too long.

And now your spirit says, “I can’t carry this by myself anymore.”

And instead of pretending…Asaph expresses it. Because you can’t get healed from what you keep hiding.

COMPLAINT CAN DISTORT YOUR VIEW OF GOD

Asaph says something powerful: “I remembered God, and was troubled…”

Wait a minute. How do you remember God… and get troubled? Because when you’re overwhelmed…Your perspective gets cloudy.

You start remembering God, but through the lens of your pain. So instead of remembering His power, you question His presence.

Instead of remembering His faithfulness, you focus on your frustration.

Supporting Scripture:

(Exodus 14:11) Israel complains even after God delivers them from Egypt. “Then they said to Moses, is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What is this that you have done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?”

(Numbers 11:1) “Now the people became like those who complained and whine about their hardships, and the Lord heard it; and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp.”

Complaint unchecked will cause you to misinterpret God.

You’ll say things like:

“God doesn’t care…”

“God forgot about me…”

“God isn’t moving…”

But the truth is God hasn’t changed… your situation just got louder than your revelation.

Can I preach it the way I feel it?

The problem is not that God is absent; The problem is your pain is amplifying doubt.

That’s why you’ve got to be careful…Because if you stay in complaint too long, you’ll start questioning the very God who kept you.

COMPLAINT CAN BE THE TURNING POINT TO REMEMBRANCE

Now here’s where the text starts to shift. Because although Asaph starts in complaint, he doesn’t stay there.

Later in the Psalm (v.11), he says: “I will remember the works of the Lord…”

That’s the turning point! He moves from: “I complained…” To… “I will remember…”

Supporting Scripture:

(Lamentations 3:21–23) “But this I call to mind, therefore I have hope. It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness.”

(Psalm 103:2) “Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget any of His benefits.”

Can I help somebody here?

You may start with complaint; But you’ve got to end with remembrance. Because remembrance restores perspective.

When you remember what God has done; It strengthens you for what you’re going through.

You start saying: “If He brought me out before… He can do it again.”

“If He made a way before… He can make a way again.”

“If He healed before… He can heal again.”

Your complaint becomes a bridge; From where you are…To where your faith needs to be.

CELEBRATORY WHOOPING CLOSE

And I feel like preaching it now. Because somebody walked in here overwhelmed…

Somebody walked in here frustrated…

Somebody walked in here saying, “Lord, I’ve been complaining…”

But I came to tell you; God can handle your complaint!

He’s not intimidated by your frustration!

He’s not scared of your questions!

He’s not put off by your pain!

Because the same God you complained to; Is the same God who’s about to bring you through!

Do I have a witness in here?

You cried about it. But He kept you!

You questioned Him. But He covered you!

You didn’t understand it. But He sustained you!

And I hear the Lord saying, “Don’t stay in complaint… shift into remembrance!”

Remember when you didn’t know how you were going to make it. AND GOD MADE A WAY!

Remember when you were sick in your body. AND GOD HEALED YOU!

Remember when doors were closed. AND GOD OPENED ONE NOBODY COULD SHUT!

Somebody ought to shout, “I remember!”

I remember His goodness!

I remember His mercy!

I remember His faithfulness!

And if He did it before. HE CAN DO IT AGAIN!

Say YES!

Say YES!

Say YES!

ALTAR CALL / INVITATION

If you’re here today and you’ve been overwhelmed…

If your spirit has been heavy…

If you’ve been carrying more than you can handle…

Bring it to God.

Because your complaint doesn’t disqualify you

It positions you for an encounter with Him.

Come on… give God praise in this place!