DON'T I?
Today's reading: Job 5-6

"Don't I have a right to complain?" Job 6:5 NLT

I'd never noticed it before. I guess I'd overlooked it. Maybe I'd assumed he didn't do it, but he did. Quite possibly I'd thought it was sinful, arrogant and disgustingly ungodly. But it's there. It's really there!

Job complained.

Honestly, didn't you think he'd risen above that? I mean, there's a book named after him and all.

Then again, Job had gone through a lot. Why shouldn't he complain, wail, whine and moan?

There's nothing wrong with it, in its self.

But we never stop with just complaining, do we?

We complain, then we throw ourselves down on the ground like children.

We complain, then we begin wringing our hands in despair and fear.

We complain, then we throw in the towel.

We complain, then we begin criticizing, condemning and playing the role of Holy Spirit in the lives of those around us.

Another point to consider about Job's complaining--he was known for being a fine man, one filled with integrity, one who feared God and had nothing to do with evil. He was not known for complaining.

Ouch!

We can state our case. We can claim 'it's not fair'. We can whine and moan. But in the end, get up and praise Him. When you've spilled your guts, cried your eyes out and shouted until you're hoarse, continue on the journey He's marked for you. Go ahead, complain, if that's what you feel you need to do, but once it's out of your system, move on and up!