“I Am Not Complaining” Is Most Times Unrealistic

Habakkuk 1:2
How long, LORD, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?

Habakkuk 1:3
Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.

Habakkuk 1:4
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.

Ever complaining is bad behavior. But complaining is also human. We complain when we are not satisfied and we wish to see things get better. This happens every day and in many ways. Therefore to totally say that you can’t complain or you are not complaining, is lying about the true state of affairs in life. “I am not complaining” is most times unrealistic!

There is always something to complain about in this world of sin and imperfection. You cannot be satisfied with the less than ideal life that we live in this sinful world. Therefore when we do not complain, it is because we choose not to complain and not because there is nothing to complain about. We choose to see the good and ignore the bad and that is why we do not complain. Otherwise, there is a lot to complain about, to say that there is nothing is to lie. “I am not complaining” is most times unrealistic!

We should live positive lives and focus on the good. We should complain less and less, and be grateful more and more. However, when overwhelmed by disappointment, it is unhealthy not to complain. When overwhelmed by disappointment it is healthy to complain. To bottle up disappointment without expressing it can lead to a mental breakdown. We should learn to allow people to complain when they must. Complain is part of communication and it satisfies, just to complain. To pretend that there is nothing to complain about is to be unrealistic. “I am not complaining” is most times unrealistic!

In our text today, the prophet Habakkuk complains to God. Even in our relationship with God, we are free to complain. God does not condemn Habakkuk for complaining. God knows it is necessary sometimes to complain. We can never fully understand God and His ways, so at times we feel that He has disappointed us. We feel bad that God has not answered our prayer. What do we do? Pretend all is well, yet all is not well? “I am not complaining” is most times unrealistic!

There are times and sometimes many when we feel that God has failed us. God, how could You allow that? God, You have power why didn’t You stop that? Hey God, do You hear my prayers? You are so quiet, do You exist? If we take these complaints to God in prayer, we are in a healthy relationship with God. Job remained faithful to God in his suffering but he complained big time. He even demanded to meet God and argue his case. Complaints come from an honest heart that is willing to resolve issues. Failure to complain is being unrealistic most times. “I am not complaining” is most times unrealistic!

Our prayer life should not just be recited prayers. Should not just praise. At times in prayer, we complain bitterly when we feel God has failed us. We tell God You have failed me. When we pray like this, we are doing well in our prayer life. When God disappoints you, you don’t stop going to church. When God disappoints you, you don’t stop praying. You go to Him and complain. Any relationship where partners complain to each other has more chances of survival than one where the reaction to disappointment is silence or walking away. Complaints open a channel of communication. To complain is healthy when disappointed, even with God. “I am not complaining” is most times unrealistic!

Habakkuk in our text today tells God what we sometimes feel. He tells God I am calling for help and You are not listening. I tell You there is violence but You do not save. Habakkuk asks God why He does nothing yet He sees injustice taking place. Habakkuk asks God to stop tolerating wrongdoing. This is not what God was doing, but this is how the prophet felt. The prophet did not lie about his faith and pretend that he trusts God will fix things. The prophet felt God was condoning evil and he said it to God. God responded without condemning the prophet for complaining. God tells the prophet that He will correct things. Complaints are more honest than pretending all is well. “I am not complaining” is most times unrealistic!

Murmuring that Israelites did and earned God’s wrath, is when you do not take your complaints to the concerned parties. Murmuring does not seek to solve the problem but to incite others to hate authority. Murmuring is a refusal to see any good and permanently focus on the negative. Murmuring is a choice to be pessimistic and hateful. Complaint on the other hand is a focus on a particular thing that has gone wrong and raising it with the relevant authority or person. Complaints are healthy in any relationship, even our relationship with God. “I am not complaining” is most times unrealistic!

Murmuring in a relationship is when we do not focus on the problem. We bring out historical issues that had been discussed. Listening to a murmuring person, you will not get what the issue is. Everything seems to be an issue. Nothing in particular. It is difficult to respond to and to satisfy a murmuring person. A murmuring person makes the environment toxic and nothing can be resolved. Murmuring is a terrible way to go. Complaints are issue-based and are easily resolvable. “I am not complaining” is most times unrealistic!

We should be honest in all relationships. Praise when we feel like praising and complain when we feel disappointed. Live a balanced honest life. Do not live a life that pretends all is well. The Bible record shows that God’s people praised and complained depending on the occasion. Let your prayer time be a real moment of conversing with God and not reciting prayers. Tell God your fears, hopes, and requests. Talk to God as to a friend. May our relationship with God and others be honest, realistic and fruitful, in Jesus’ name, Amen!