I want to complain because there is much to complain about. It won’t solve anything, but pointing out the obvious is oddly satisfying. There’s an odd sense of acknowledgement, and bonding with others-- even complete strangers at the grocery store--over shared frustration feels healing. But I’ve felt the prompting to express gratitude so that I break from this false sense of comfort.
Expressing gratitude sets you free from the pattern of despair and powerlessness that’s characteristic of complaints. Complaints reinforce that feeling that nothing will work out or get better, and you descend into this nihilistic tunnel where you begin to wonder what the purpose or the point of life is.
I know it has been said, and we all know that our joy doesn’t depend on what is going on around us. But coming to this realization recently was like a light bulb moment. I recalled the moments when I’ve felt most joyful and satisfied, and it had nothing to do with a person or people. It reminded me of Jesus sleeping in the boat in the middle of a storm in Mark4:38. Admittedly, I have been like the disciples, wondering if Jesus cares if I drown. But He has reassured me that I won’t drown, and to hold my peace. And the more that I’m doing this, doing that, observing things, I’ve concluded that I’ve given my thoughts and energy too much room to be bamboozled by the things that I cannot control. And one effective way to stop this is to express gratitude. Gratitude for life, for what I have (rather than what's lacking), gratitude for what is working and not working Jesus requires us to be thankful in every circumstance (1Thessalonians5:18). By being thankful, joy is activated, and I can even pray without a chip on my shoulder.
Yes, there’s plenty to complain about. And probably you can’t name one good thing that you are grateful for. But if anything, be grateful for your life, that with it there’s still opportunity to experience better days ahead.
