Daily Devotional – 12/9/11 “Why are you still whining?”

I’m reminded every minute of every day that things in my life could be much worse than they are! I am also reminded that the things in my family, friends and co-workers lives could be much worse than they are, but they aren’t.  See, my name could be the one hanging on the Angel Tree in need of assistance this holiday season, but it’s not.  I could be in a Red Cross shelter because fire came and consumed my home and all the things that I’ve worked for, but it hasn’t.  I could be spending my Christmas at St. Jude with a sick child, but I’m not.  I could be visiting my parents at the hospital, nursing home or cemetery, but I’m not.  I could be standing at the unemployment office, but I’m not.  I could be at the West Clinic 3-5 times per week for chemotherapy, but I’m not.  I could be getting dialysis or radiation therapy 5 times per week, but I’m not.  I could be bitter and alone, but I’m not.  I could be living under the overpass that you drive over every day, but I’m not.  I could be identifying a family member at the coroner’s office, but I’m not.  So, when I sit and think about the things I have to deal with and then I turn on the news or read the newspaper, I realize that my problems are absolutely meaningless, so I have no need to complain.  I know if I stand on God’s promises I’ll receive all he has for me, so I won’t complain! I won’t be jealous of my neighbor but I’ll try to be friendlier when I see them.  I won’t hate on my sister because she has more than me, I’ll just ask her for a little help if I seem to need it.  I won’t laugh when you are going through trouble, but I’ll be there for you if you need help.  I won’t tell your business when you call me, but I’ll pray for you when the conversation is over.  I won’t bite my tongue when it comes to telling you the truth, because I am your friend and that’s what I’m supposed to do.  Proverbs 17:17 says “A friend always loves, and a brother is born to share trouble.”

See, God made this life just for you and you know, because I’ve said it times before, that he didn’t promise joy all the time.  If you don’t believe me, study the word for yourself because in Ecclesiastes 11:8, it states, “However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. But let him remember the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.”  Yes, everything that you deal with while walking on this side of the dirt is meaningless, because this life is not your last, for Jesus said in John 14:3, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”  See, he wasn’t speaking about a place that is built by man’s hands, but of a place where there is no weeping, no heartache, no lying and backbiting, no hate and jealousy, no being misused, no fake folk and no death but all life.  But in order to see this place, you have to endure the pain on this side.  So, on your good days enjoy life and even on the bad days, enjoy life.  Don’t live your life with regrets because the next minute is not promised.  If there is something you want to do, do it! If there is a restaurant you want to try, try it! If there is a dress/suit you want, buy it! I know that you got paid today and you’re still in the hole but I can guarantee you the bills you have now, will still be there when you leave here so stop whining. 

You do know that laughter is good for the soul and it is Friday!  You’ve been wound up all week-long and you are letting life pass you by.  Stop allowing that job to kill you and use some of that vacation time you got saved because you can’t take it with you and you do know that you’ll be replaced at the job before the dust settles on your grave, right?  Enjoy the life that you’ve been blessed with, the day you’ve been blessed to see and the family & friends that are blessed to have you!  Your life has meaning and that whining is only blocking the blessings that God is trying to send your way.  Go by and get you a $6 bottle of wine and a few movies and relax.  There isn’t a thing wrong with drinking a little wine because you’re a Christian; the sin is in getting drunk. (You know I have a scripture for that, too!)  Read for yourself in Ecclesiastes 8:15 that say “So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.” You can have a great time without making a fool of yourself.  Put on a cute dress or a nice suit and go dancing.  Just because you’re a Christian, again, it doesn’t mean you stop living.  God simply said in Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Just because you hang around with folk that smoke weed, it doesn’t mean you have too.  You have to be your own leader and not a follower.  Ephesians 5:17 say “So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”  So, stop whining every time trouble knocks at your door because, baby, you are not the only one that trouble finds. Grandma always say that either you’re in a storm, about to go through a storm or just coming out of one.  But just because you are being attacked by the devil, it doesn’t mean you have to look like it.  If you don’t have the money for the hair salon, it doesn’t mean you stop combing your hair.  Polish your own nails until your next payday.  Go to some of the Goodwill stores and shop for clothes, because they have some good stuff in most of them (and for cheap).  Play some games at home with the kids or find a movie channel and pop some popcorn.  You can still enjoy life without spending a fortune.  God won’t ever bring you to anything that he is not capable of bringing you through.  Trust him and stop whining, because whining is for babies anyway and most times that works your nerves so imagine what the whining from a 30-year-old adult does!  Your life could be much worse, but it’s not so stop acting like it!