Mornings are hard. I have always secretly envied people (like my husband) who are able to wake up early and still be congenial, outgoing, and talkative from the get-go. If I have to get up early, it seems the only thing I can focus on is how bad I feel – the brain fog and the general malaise.

I recently saw a mug that declared, “A fun thing to do in the morning is not talk to me.” Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

During COVID, I worked from home. Without the long commute, I was able to slowly wake up before I had to travel down the hallway to our loft where I had set up my home office. I quickly adapted to my new routine. Needless to say, my morning disposition greatly improved.

But now it was time to go back to work at my real office. We had been summoned by those with the authority to change my morning routine. So, in the wee hours before the rising of the sun, I dragged my body out of bed. And I grumbled.

The Bible instructs us not to complain (1 Corinthians 10:10). The Greek word used for complain means to murmur or grumble against in a low tone. It shows a discontentedness with the way things are in your life.

Yet, I had been grumbling and complaining every chance I got. I grumbled in my head. I whined to my husband, coworkers, and friends. I complained about having to get up early. I criticized those who had made the decision to bring us back to the office given that we would be required to wear masks. I felt justified with my grumbling since I’m not a morning person.

Then God reminded me that we’re not supposed to grumble. While I was teaching other women in a Bible study, one of the verses talked about grumbling.

Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.” (James 5:9 (NKJV))

Ironic, isn’t it? There I was, telling them how they shouldn’t grumble when I had been doing that very thing. A few weeks later, God brought that verse to my remembrance, and the self-application finally sunk in.

I realized that my perspective was wrong. I had only been focused on the early hours and how my body felt. I had lost the bigger picture.

When I shifted my perspective, I could see all that God had given me. Sure, I now had to wake up early, but God was still blessing my life.

• God had continued to provide me with a job.
• God gave me coworkers that I enjoy working with.
• God provided me with the opportunity to spend time with Him in the morning while I commuted in my car – time to sing praises to Him, listen to His word, and pray.

I had forgotten that God is in control of everything. Nothing happens in my life without it going through Him first. There is a reason for everything. God had a reason for allowing the early hours and the long commute back into my life – even if I couldn’t see what it was. I can be certain that God will use whatever happens in my life for His glory.

I had also forgotten that grumbling ruins your witness to others. When you complain, the people around you will wonder why they should be a Christian when you aren’t any different than anyone else. Jesus said,

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35 (NKJV))

Jesus didn’t say they would know you are His disciple by your complaining. There is no love in grumbling.

Jesus also told us,

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (Matthew 5:13 (NKJV))

Figuratively, Jesus was telling us that, as His followers, we are to exhibit wisdom and grace in our speech. As Pastor Jon Courson put it, “Salt promotes thirst, and as the salt of the earth, we should be making those around us thirsty for the living water of Jesus Christ.” We cannot be witnesses that will bring others to Jesus when we are complaining about things.

So I repented and asked God to forgive me for grumbling. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 (NKJV)). Praise God! Then I purposed in my heart to stop grumbling.

Have you been complaining about something? It may be something that seems unfair to you. And the situation may be unfair. Either way, God is faithful in your life.

If you’ve been grumbling, it’s time to change your perspective about your situation. Take a step back and ask God to show you the bigger picture. Instead of ruminating on what’s wrong, shift your focus from your circumstances to our faithful God. Make a list about the ways that God has been faithful in your life. Then meditate on God’s faithfulness. You can trust God as you walk by faith with Him.