There is a difference between being honest about the pain and being consumed by it.
Complaining is like replaying the same frustrations without seeking peace. It is focusing intently on what’s wrong that we stop noticing what’s still holding us up.
Like when the Israelites were freed from slavery and were led into the wilderness. They complained about everything and started worshiping another god which unraveled their distrust in the God who had already proven faithful.
“Do all things without complaining and disputing,” Philippians 2:14
This isn’t a command to suppress pain. It’s an invitation to live lighter. To stop carrying the extra weight of bitterness on top of what already hurts.
I know it is hard not to. I use to complain a lot, especially when cancer came into my life. Sometimes I would complain, recent years, about the disabilities the treatments gave me.
But complaining doesn’t just affect our mindset — it affects our bodies, our relationships, and our ability to see God’s presence in small, sustaining ways.
God doesn’t shame us for noticing our own negativity. He gently redirects us. He invites us to turn complaints into prayers, frustration into conversation, and weariness into rest.
Paul says in Philippians 4:6
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”
Not denial. Not pretending. Just redirection.
From my experience, talking to Him removed the excess weight on my shoulders, decreased my headaches, and gave me a sense of calmness.
Remember that you are human. You do not have to silence yourself. You just need to shift where your words are going.
Bring them to God. Let Him hold them.
And slowly, quietly, you will find that gratitude and trust begin to take up more space than frustration ever did.
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