28 Days of Gratitude: Day 17
“Not long afterward, all the men of Israel started coming to the king, complaining to him, ‘Why did our relatives in Judah’s army sneak you away, taking the king and his household over the Jordan River, along with David’s army?’” (2 Samuel 19:41 ISV)
The men of Israel were complaining because they felt left out of an exciting, ceremonial welcoming back of King David. This was after David had been on the run from his rebellious son Absalom who had tried to kill his father in order to steal his throne away.
Once Absalom died in battle, Judah’s army took David over the Jordan River to reinstate him as king, but they did this without telling the men of Israel, which is why they were offended and complaining. Judah, however, defended their decision in verse 42, claiming, “We did this because the king is closely related to us.”
In a nutshell, the bickering was all about who was most loyal to David and had the real right to honor the king. A mix of competitiveness and pettiness created this unnecessary rivalry and tension that ultimately overshadowed what should have been a joyous and historic moment.
In life, it is sometimes the pettiest things that get under our skin the most. Has anyone ever done or said something to you a certain way, and it rubbed you wrong? Did you get agitated and complain or grumble about it? Did their actions get your emotions twisted up and make it hard to enjoy your day? Have you ever responded in one of these instances in a petty way?
YOU HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE
When people slight you or undermine you, you have to decide whether to complain or shrug it off. Your response is up to you. You can’t control other people’s behaviors, but you can control how you react to them.
I was once at a ministry function, and I was ministering with two other people I did not know. Everything was going well until one of the women sharing the platform snatched the microphone away from me. What she did was inappropriate, and I knew it, but I had a decision to make: was I going to let her actions overshadow that moment of ministry, or was I going to focus on what God called me to do?
I chose not to react, and I am so glad I let it go. God blessed the people in attendance despite the slight. After the event was over, many people mentioned what had been done to me, and they said they were impacted by the way I handled it. They saw the light of Christ shine. When I looked back on it, I realized that, even without a microphone, my life was speaking. I felt grateful that God brought something good out of an unfortunate occurrence.
But, consider what would have happened had I made that moment about me. What if I let my pride get in the way? What if I complained publicly and pushed back against what I felt was wrong? How would that have affected others who were watching me?
When you are done wrong or someone slights you, you have a decision to make. Will you get down on their level or trust God to help you rise above it? Philippians 2:3 NASB says, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves.”
It’s easy to get caught up in a moment as well as your feelings, but that will only lead you down the wrong path. Instead of complaining, bickering, or retaliating, say a little prayer, and thank God for giving you strength to rise above pettiness, rivalry, and pride.
JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE
Isaiah 53:7 says this of Jesus: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.” The process leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion until the moment He died subjected Him to terrible treatment. He was taunted, spit on, beaten, and disrespected. Yet, the Savior of the world did not say anything in His own defense, because He kept His eyes focused on His mission of redeeming the lost.
Jesus is our example, and if we keep this in mind, we will open our mouths less to complain about mistreatment, engage in petty arguments, or give our rival a piece of our mind. At the end of the day, is it really worth it? Wouldn’t it be much better to let some things go, and thank God in advance for causing something good to come out of it?
While there are times when it is appropriate to speak up to prevent harm, communicate your feelings, get clarity, or put a stop to a certain toxic behavior, there are also times not to open your mouth. In fact, there are seasons when God will tell you as He told Israel in Exodus 14:14 NIV: “The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
I don’t know what you have been through, will go through, or are going through right now, but I do know that God advocates for His people. He fights battles better than we ever can and intervenes when we need Him most.
Instead of wasting your breath and complaining over a slight, trust the Lord to be your defender, and thank Him for standing up for you. Praise Him for defeating every enemy on your behalf. Rejoice that the weapon formed against you won’t prosper, and be grateful that Jesus Christ intercedes for you in unfavorable circumstances.
Stay grateful. Stay humble. Stay above the pettiness.
JOURNAL ASSIGNMENT
In your journal today, write down:
One time God helped you on a public platform.
One way God favored you in a hostile situation or an uncomfortable situation.
Something tough you dealt with that God used to make you stronger.
One way God has blessed you today.
One reason you are grateful for your trials.
Now, let’s pray.
God, every situation I step into isn’t ideal. But thank You for the opposition, hardship, and challenges, because they are turning me into a vessel of honor who can be used by You. Please help me rise above pettiness, rivalry, and pride, and remain humble and grateful in every circumstance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
What Is the 28 Days of Gratitude Series Based On?
This gratitude series is based on 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT, which says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
In my time spent with the Lord, He dealt with me about how we have a tendency to focus on our issues, problems, challenges, and difficulties, but we are not necessarily intentional about focusing on His goodness. Failing to meditate on His works forces us into a cycle of complaining and blinds us to the amazing ways He reveals Himself on a daily basis. In all circumstances, let us be more grateful.
What do I need to participate?
To participate in this series, you will need a notebook and a journal, because it requires writing some things down. In whatever journal you choose—and it doesn’t need to be anything fancy—daily, you will write down the Scripture of the day.
The featured verse will highlight a complaint from the Bible to help you see that, throughout history, others have struggled just as you do. Yet, God desires that we be grateful. In your journal, I would ask that you write the verse you see featured on the Daily Cup blog each morning, then jot down 5 things for which you are grateful.
5 is the number of grace, so you will be focusing on the grace of God and how His mercy has been evident in your life, even during rough times. At the end of each post, 5 suggested thing to write about are listed.
