Trust in God and Embrace the Present: Overcoming the Spirit of Complaint ― Priscilla Shirer

“The spirit of complaint is born out of an unwillingness to trust God with today.
Like the Israelites, it means you are spending your time looking back toward Egypt or wishing for the future all the while missing what God is doing right now.” ― Priscilla Shirer

The spirit of complaint is a destructive force that can erode our joy, ruin our relationships, and prevent us from living our lives to the whole. It is born out of an unwillingness to trust God with our present circumstances, and it often leads us to focus on the past or the future instead of the present.
Priscilla Shirer’s words us of the dangers of this spirit remind and encourage us to trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty. When we complain, we are basically saying that we don’t believe God is capable of taking care of us or that He is not good. We may feel like we have been wronged or that things should be different, but the truth is that God is sovereign and His ways are higher than our own.
The Israelites provide a powerful example of the dangers of complaint. When they were freed from slavery in Egypt, they were quick to complain about their circumstances and long for the “good old days” in Egypt. They were so focused on the past that they missed out on the blessings that God had for them in the present. In the same way, when we focus on the past or the future, we may miss out on the blessings that God has for us in the present.

One of the best ways to combat the spirit of complaint is to focus on gratitude. When we take the time to appreciate the good things in our lives, it helps to put our circumstances into perspective. We may still have challenges and hardships, but when we focus on the good, it helps us to trust God more fully and to see His hand at work in our lives.

Another way to combat the spirit of complaint is to seek out the needs of others. When we shift our focus from ourselves and our own problems to the needs of others, it helps to put our own issues into perspective. It also helps us to see that we are not alone in our struggles and that others are facing similar challenges.
Finally, it’s important to remember that God is always with us and that He is working in our lives, even when we can’t see it. When we trust in His goodness and sovereignty, we can find peace and joy in the present, no matter what our circumstances may be.

In conclusion, the spirit of complaint is a destructive force that can prevent us from living our lives to the whole. By focusing on gratitude, seeking out the needs of others, and trusting in God’s goodness and sovereignty, we can overcome this spirit and find joy in the present. Priscilla Shirer’s words remind us of the importance of trusting in God with our present circumstances and not getting caught up in the past or the future. May we all strive to let go of the spirit of complaint and embrace the blessings that God has for us in the present.