by Justin Morton
Have you ever found yourself focusing on what you lack rather than appreciating all that you have? This attitude is not unique to our time. It has been a struggle even for God’s people all the way back when the Israelites were in the wilderness. Just three days after the children of Israel miraculously crossed the Red Sea and praised God for their success, their gratitude faded and the complaints began (Exodus 15:22-27). This pattern is repeated throughout their time in the wilderness.
In Numbers 11, the Jews once again expressed their complaints. After suffering severe consequences, we read: “Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at’” (Numbers 11:4-6).
Despite God’s miraculous provision of manna each morning (Exodus 16:4, 35), the Israelites longed for something different. Their discontentment overshadowed the blessings they received, and they quickly forgot how God had provided for them. Every step of the way, God had been faithful. And yet, the Israelites were not appreciative of what God was doing and instead longed for something different.
The Israelites journey reminds us how easy it is to overlook the blessings we have and become dissatisfied, even though we are surrounded by evidence of God’s care and provision each day. We can look around at all the things we do not have or all the ways our lives could be better, and we take for granted the blessings God has rained down on us. When we take our blessings for granted, we risk missing the evidence of God’s care and provision that surrounds us.
God has blessed us immensely (James 1:16-17). Instead of complaining, let’s worship and praise God for His blessings (Psalm 107: 1, 8, 15, 21, 31). The more time we spend focusing on what we lack, the less time we have to be grateful for what we possess.
The story of the Israelites teaches us that gratitude is a choice. By shifting our focus from what we lack to what we have, we can develop a spirit of gratitude and avoid the pitfalls of complaining. Let us always choose gratitude over grumbling.