From Grumbling to Gratitude (by Theron St John)

Guest Post Written by Theron St John

As a new father, sleep has not been the easiest to come by. Some nights I am awakened by the sound of my newborn son’s cry. In those moments, I find myself tempted to complain because my ears hear the constant sound and my eyes long for more sleep. Yet, the Lord has reminded me of reasons to be grateful. My son may cry in the middle of the night, but his cries reveal a dependence upon his parents. His call of hunger actually shows he is a healthy baby. It is those little moments of God’s grace that turn my temptation to grumble into a testimony of gratitude.

I suspect many of you may be able to relate. While you may not be a new parent, you have relationships that are not what you have expected or have wanted them to be. You may have struggles in your personal life, or you may have a job that doesn’t bring you the greatest pleasure or surround you with the greatest company. In those situations, you have two options: you can mark your response by grumbling or with gratitude.

Having an Attitude of Gratitude

As Christians who have received the grace of God in the gospel, we see grumbling reveals a lack of trust in the Lord’s sovereignty and provision for what He has placed before us. At the same, an attitude of gratitude reveals we understand the grace God has given to us in Jesus Christ. Romans 6:23 lays this grace out for us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” When we choose to grumble, we are essentially saying that we are not receiving what we believe we deserve. The first half of this verse makes it clear the only thing we truly deserve and have earned is what we have done with our sin. Thanks be to God, though, Romans 6:23 concludes with grace. God, in His grace, extends mercy through the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus. In His grace, we get what we don’t deserve. This is not a reason to grumble; it is a reason to be grateful. Meditate on the gospel of grace today so your words, thoughts, and actions may be marked not by grumbling but with gratitude.