Slideshow image

“Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice" - Psalm 55:17

Have you ever had someone in your life who seemed to complain and moan about everything? No matter when you see them or what’s going on, they are always venting about something. This kind of person can be emotionally and mentally exhausting. Before long, we may find ourselves ignoring their phone calls, sitting at a different lunch table, or joining a new small group, just to get a break from the dripping faucet of their perpetual frustrations.  

How great of a friend is God? Here, David essentially says, “I complain and moan to God all the time and He is always willing to listen.” Does God enjoy our groaning and grumbling? No. But He cares for us, and He knows that we all need someone to talk to about our problems. It’s true that "A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back (Proverbs 29:11)." If we spew our frustrations on everyone around us, we will find ourselves quickly alone. It is equally true, however, that we should not stuff our feelings down and leave them unresolved. In this way, God is the perfect friend for the perpetually frustrated. Whether morning, noon, or night, you can utter your complaints and moan about your sorrows and God will be there to listen. He hears you. Think about that in light of this quote from author David Augsburger - “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person, they are almost indistinguishable. The simple fact that God hears your constant complaining and incessant moaning should remind you of how greatly you are loved.  

Thankfully, David demonstrated that a healthy relationship with God should be much more worship than whining. While God receives us in our problems, He rejoices in our praises! Study the Psalms and you will see a familiar pattern, David often bookends his complaints and questions toward God with praise and worship. We would do well to do the same. God’s steadfast love endures forever, even through our interminable airing of grievances. If you can’t find any other reason to praise Him, than praise Him for always hearing you.