Obviously, there's grace all in this....the writing...the show....it's all the grace of God. And as a person who has been critical of the media, one thing that can't be ignored is the born again believers who work for major and minor media markets. Imagine all of the carnage and evil they see and hear every day. And not just to hear it, but to review it....analyze it....and pass it to the world. Half of us don't even watch the news because we say it's too depressing. Well, think about all of the people that put it together. You gotta know that some of them either got in or stayed in that industry because they wanted to make a change. From the on-location anchor reporting from a hotel used in sex trafficking to the meteorologist reporting from a tornado-torn town; this stuff can get to you...and the good hearted eventually want to help. But unfortunately, the news cycle doesn't stop for healing interventions; and the drama and the pain continues. And since I've been throwing myself into this global awareness thing, I can't help but wonder what would happen if intervention was allowed....even just speaking new life into the tragedy.
Equally unfortunate is the drama and pain in some of our lives; and this is clearly more critical, more impactful. We can't just turn the television off or change the channel when a bad report happens to us...we are forced to watch and in most instances participate. But, unlike the reporter, who can't even begin to rectify the situation he or she sees because of time constraints; we actually can. For all of us, being forced to participate in our own issues is a given, but how we participate is the difference; and many times the way we participate is the solution as well. However, most of us forego the ability to solve the problem...simply by complaining too much.
I'm amazed at the vast number of people I encounter who will verbally declare health and wealth in Jesus' Name in church, but will complain of being sick and broke as soon as they hit the parking lot. Actually, an entire culture of complaining is quickly emerging right before our eyes; and regarding American Christianity, a movement that was designed to be peacefully revolutionary through the deliberate use of words is turning into mass whining and an uncertain belief system.
Negativity is very captivating. It shapes our temporary existence but it also has eternal consequences. How? Because if we are frequently complaining about how our spouse is our isn't acting, or our work schedule, or our illnesses, or our financial position, then are we really that convinced that Jesus is who He says He is? If we are indeed redeemed from death to where we say we're going to live with God forever, does it even make sense to complain about things as trivial as...say waiting in line? I heard a quote this weekend that describes the majority of us: "I thought I was praying, but I was really complaining." This is not only dumb, but it's dangerous.
In Matthew 13:58 it's recorded that Jesus didn't help out a lot of people because they complained about who Jesus was claiming to be, and didn't believe He could heal. And in Hebrews 3:19, the writer explains that it was the peoples lack of faith (evidenced by complaining) kept them out of a land that was promised to them. Here's a mirror question for you: how much victory have you disqualified yourself from because you complained about where you currently were?
It may be safe to say that very, very few people are where they want to be. But if we were to think about the people that are closer to the success they want than most, I'm sure we would find a correlation between a lack of complaining and desired achievement.
Peace
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