6 Helpful Ways to Stop Complaining So You Can Live with Gratitude and Joy
It seems like people are finding plenty of things to complain about lately.
What do you think? How often do you catch yourself complaining?
But wait, it’s supposed to be that time of year when we encourage each other to talk more about those things for which we are thankful.
And…
Aren’t we told that followers of Jesus are supposed to live each day with gratitude and joy?
David wrote:
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 28:6–7
For He has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust Him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Scripture tells us that David wrote this while surrounded by people doing acts of evil and wickedness. He wasn’t filled with gratitude and joy because life was easy. He was thankful because He knew He could trust God to be merciful and to give him strength.
David had difficult moments and so will we but it’s up to us what we’re going to do with them. I wish I could share that I bubble over with giddiness and enthusiasm but truthfully, I have my share of moments when circumstances make me want to grumble and complain.
But I’ve learned something important . . . I never feel better after I’m done complaining. It just doesn’t help.
However, I do have some things that have been helpful and I’d love to share them with you…
6 Helpful Ways to Stop Complaining
So You Can Live with Gratitude & Joy
1. Cry out to God – run to the One who is able to help you.
Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:12
2. Replace negative thoughts with God’s truth.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8
3. Be still and get some rest.
Be still, and know that I am God!
Psalm 46:10
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
4. Do what you can and let go of the rest.
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
John 14:27
5. Do one thing every day that gives you joy – take a walk, read a book, enjoy a bubble bath, etc.
This is the day the Lord has made.
Psalm 118:24
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
6. Trust God’s love and live with hope.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7
A Prayer to Stop Complaining
and Live with Gratitude and Joy
Father, You are loving and good . . . and I want to live my life full of gratitude and joy. But I don’t. Like the whining wilderness wanderers, I grumble and whine about my problems—my big ones and my little ones. I’m so sorry.
I know You are greater than my circumstances. But I am guilty of stubbornly trying to “fix” things myself and then I complain when I fail. Please forgive me and help me SEEK Your guidance and direction in all that I do and say.
Help me remember that I can run to You in prayer trusting that You are able to give me everything I need to live one day at a time following Your will. Help me remember to slow down and rest when it’s needed. And prompt me to take every concern and doubt and replace it with Your truth and promises.
Father, You are love! You have shown it since You spoke the world into being. Even when Your creation fell into sin, You promised and then provided Jesus, the Messiah, to save us. How can I complain when I have hope through my Savior?
By Your grace and with Your help, I will live this day with gratitude and joy and I will entrust tomorrow to Your loving care and provision. You are my strength and shield. I love you, Lord. Amen.
I think we all have times when we’re frustrated and complaining comes naturally. But the truth is, I don’t know anyone who feels grateful and joyful at the end of a good gripe session.
But…
Saying, “I’m frustrated or this is hard,” and running to the throne of grace asking God to replace fear, insecurity, uncertainty, and frustration with the truth of His promises gives healing and hope.
His truth helps me remember…
- God is greater than my circumstances. (1 John 4:4)
- God will give me peace. (Philippians 4:6–7)
- God will give me strength. (Isaiah 12:2)
- God is able to work this situation for good. (Romans 8:28)
- God’s love never fails. (Psalm 59:17)
Are you ready?
Let’s make a commitment to follow the example of King David. When he was surrounded by wickedness and evil, he ran to the Father and received the strength he needed to turn his complaints into a promise…
The Lord is my strength and shield.
Psalm 28:7
I trust Him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
May God be with you and fill you with gratitude and joy.
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Pleasant Good Morning,
Thank you so much for being a blessing. I thank God that I was able to connect with countingmyblessings, he truly provides all that we need, when we need it. May God continue to strengthen you and fill you with a word for his people.
You are so kind, Vernetta. Thank you! God be with you and bless you each day!
I needed this devotional today. It seems so easy in the times we live in to complain and be negative. Thank you so much for sharing this devotion it was helpful to me.
Kathy
Thank you for visiting, Kathy, and for your kind encouragement. God bless you and fill you with joy!
Guilty as charged, Deb, but like you, I’ve never felt good after a gripe session. I’d much rather live each day with a thankful, loving heart, knowing God will see me through all my troubles. Blessings!
Me too, Martha! Life is just more fun when we live with gratitude and joy! Blessings!
Guilty… Yes, I’m far more given to complaining when I get frustrated, or things don’t go my way than to gratitude. And have to admit that I’m quite ashamed of it.
Since my birth, God showed me His infinite love and care regardless how sinful life I lived. He never let me out of His sight, pulled me back from the edge of the cliff, provided for all my temporal needs. Gifted me with a secure job, and held my hand during the worst circumstances of my life.
And nowdays, He started to teach me, after wasted decades, what does it mean to Trust Him, and rely on Him. It’s a rugged road, full of boulders that trying to trip me up. But in those situations, I remind myself of one of the Lord’s promises that I can hang on to. And since my heart desire a childlike relationship with our Heavenly Father, I started to have discussions with Him about all things of life….just as I would with my Dad. After all, God called me to life, He’s my ultimate Father.
And it utterly humbles me when He answers the most meaningless, tiny request just to show me that He hears and cares for me. Isn’t that marvelous?
It’s a struggle to respond correctly but even if I slip up, I acknowledge and repent it, and quickly turn to Jesus for solution.
It’s a wonderful thought that regardless how slow I am, the Lord’s patience and faithfulness is eternal.
My God Gaby, what a wonderful reminder, no matter how slow I am his patience and faithfulness is eternal. Lord my Master and King, I give you thanks. Because sometimes I feel like I am not grasping what it is He wants me to do, to say, where to go… I often wonder if I’m living a life that’s pleasing to God. But I thank Him for His grace. I am so grateful that he chased down my heart that I may experience his Will. To God be all the Glory.
???????????? hallelujah amen Vernetta. Finally I’m learning through Deb’s posts and other devotionals that indeed we never can live up to God’s will. But He knew that ???? that’s why He sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We have everything we need to fight the good fight….though I’m guilty as many times in the most pressing matters tend to forget this. Then the shame fills my heart that I let Jesus down yet again. But God’s answer to Joshua’s prayer after the Ai defeat (Joshua 7, 10) is a great reminder what He wants from us – “And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?”. I think He applies the same order for us too. Repented, now GET UP and move forward looking at Him. Blessings on your journey ???? You’re never alone.
I’m guilty too, Gaby. I can find myself grumbling around the house when things don’t go the way I want. I’m so thankful for God’s grace and that He continues to call me back to His better way. I’m with you . . . so very thankful for His patience and faithfulness that last forever! God bless you, my friend!
I have turned into a champion complainer and don’t like the person I see myself complaining about everything that is too hard or too complicated to get done so I just end up grumbling and who in their right mind would want to be around me. so thank you for this wake up call to help me get a much better attitude about things good and bad,, hard and easy
I’m so glad this encouraged you, Linda! The enemy of our souls has roused a spirit of complaining in our culture. May the Lord bless you and fill you with His peace and joy and countless things that will make each day Thanksgiving.
This blessed my heart and convicted me too. Pray that I can overcome the things I am unhappy with, with God’s help. I want to live in the joy of the Lord every day. The health problems I live with now will not compare with the eternity with Jesus.
I’m praying for you, Nancy, and asking the Lord to heal your health concerns. I truly believe the Lord loves to help us live with peace and joy when we surrender our lives to Him. May He be with you and bless you!