I've been noticing something about myself and pretty much the rest of the world, and it's bothering me. We're grumpy. Some of us are old, yes. Some of us are not. We're just grumpy. I go through seasons where everything makes me grumpy. My kids make me grumpy. Laundry has always made me grumpy. Cleaning the house makes me downright impossible to live with.
And it's not just me. No, I've been noticing that the whole world seems to be grumpy - especially if you get on social media. Politics make us VERY grumpy. World events make us angry and sad (which often happens to me). The worst thing is that other people make us grumpy, and we want to air that dirty laundry for the world to see. And that, folks, just isn't right.
But we're not just grumpy on social media. Try going to the grocery store or just driving down the road. You see it all over the place - people are just plain crotchety, testy, and as the "youngins" say, salty.
You know, in our defense, we probably have a lot of reasons to be grumpy. Life is hard. Some of us are going through hard stuff. Some of us are sick or we have financial issues or family issues. Some of us have suffered huge losses. But why is it that some people can handle life's hardships with grace and the rest of us get grumpy?
I was searching the online Bible for the word "grumpy." I was almost sure it was in The Message Bible, but I was wrong. I don't think God wants us to be grumpy. In fact, I'm almost sure of it. I think He wants us to be thankful. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that we should "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Paul said to give thanks in all circumstances. In fact, he says that this is God's will for us. If we belong to Christ, that's how it should be.
Psalm 42 is one of my favorites. Verses 1-5 say:
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
And it's not just me. No, I've been noticing that the whole world seems to be grumpy - especially if you get on social media. Politics make us VERY grumpy. World events make us angry and sad (which often happens to me). The worst thing is that other people make us grumpy, and we want to air that dirty laundry for the world to see. And that, folks, just isn't right.
But we're not just grumpy on social media. Try going to the grocery store or just driving down the road. You see it all over the place - people are just plain crotchety, testy, and as the "youngins" say, salty.
You know, in our defense, we probably have a lot of reasons to be grumpy. Life is hard. Some of us are going through hard stuff. Some of us are sick or we have financial issues or family issues. Some of us have suffered huge losses. But why is it that some people can handle life's hardships with grace and the rest of us get grumpy?
I was searching the online Bible for the word "grumpy." I was almost sure it was in The Message Bible, but I was wrong. I don't think God wants us to be grumpy. In fact, I'm almost sure of it. I think He wants us to be thankful. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that we should "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Paul said to give thanks in all circumstances. In fact, he says that this is God's will for us. If we belong to Christ, that's how it should be.
Psalm 42 is one of my favorites. Verses 1-5 say:
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
David starts out talking about his need for God and how he wants to meet with God. You can hear the longing in his voice - the absolute thirst for Him. David was obviously going through some sort of hard time. He probably was facing an enemy that was beyond him. So let's just say he was grumpy - or at least not in the best of moods. He even admits that he's having a hard time worshiping. He says he used to be the worship leader, but now he's not. People are looking at him and wondering, "Where is your God?" So maybe David is a little grumpy.
So here's my point: if we're grumpy, people might see us being grumpy. Is that a good witness? They might say, "I thought you were a Christian! Where is that God of yours now?" Or maybe we're going through a hard time, and we've totally left God out of the equation. People may be saying, "Where is that God of yours?" Where is your joy? David asks God to restore the joy of his salvation in Psalm 51. We would all do well to remember those days when we were first saved, or we need to remember when God delivered us or restored us from some hardship. That's the joy we're supposed to carry throughout our lives!
This is David's anecdote for grumpiness:
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
What is the cure for grumpiness? Thankfulness. Praise. Appreciation to the God who has given us good gifts - especially His Son. So often my tendency is to complain to God and not offer Him the praise He is due. I forget to be thankful. This time of the year, it's so easy to let Thanksgiving pass us by because we're so focused on getting to Christmas. That's great. I get it. Yes, I'm already watching Christmas movies. But let's not forget that gratitude will cure our crabbiness. It will slow us down and help us remember the reason for the fourth Thursday in November is not just turkey and football. It's about thanking God for all He has done for us. Let's make it our goal this week to live in thankfulness and not grumpiness.
The choice is yours: grumpy or thankful?
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| I cannot resist Grumpy Cat. However, I choose not to live like him! :) |
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