Change your Grumbling into Gratitude

The other day my husband and I went to Home Depot. We left the store, and I was grumpy. We were not able to get what we needed to at Home Depot, due to an employee not knowing how to help us. I was complaining all the way from the exit door of the building to the car. 

“We drove all the way here, and the guy was so stupid to not know what to do. I cannot believe we wasted the gas and we are not even leaving with what we needed. How could they hire someone like that? We are never going here again.” 

Then, I stopped myself. 

“I am grateful we made it safely to Home Depot. I am glad we are spending time together working on a project. I am thankful we can try again a different day at a different store to get what we need.” 

I stopped my grumbling and complaining and changed it into gratitude. My mood instantly shifted as I stopped the horrible words coming from my mouth and changed it to thankfulness instead. 

A week later I was with a friend who was complaining about someone in her life. She said she wished she wasn't complaining so much about this person. I challenged her to change her grumblings into gratitude. Her mood shifted as she stated things she was thankful for about the person instead of grumbling. 

Then, I was reading in the book of Philippians. I came across a verse I had read before but hit me differently this time. 

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the skyas you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain." (Philippians 2:14-16, NIV)

Some translations use the word “complaining” in verse 14. 

I found it fascinating Paul used the word “everything" in verse 14. Is it possible to do “all things” without grumbling or complaining? God's Word calls you to do this. You and I need to lean on the Lord in prayer and ask Him to help us with this. 

Journal prompt: What have you been grumbling and complaining about lately? Write a prayer of confession to the Lord, asking Him to forgive you. Change your grumbling into gratitude and write a list of things you're thankful for directly related to what you were complaining about. 

The next time you find yourself grumbling, I challenge you to turn your words into gratitude instead. Here's my Bible study notebook where I took notes about Philippians chapter 2. You can click here (affiliate link) to get one of these Bible study notebooks.