I was ambushed by a frustrated person this week, who was angry about a situation at work.
I listened for about ten minutes. At the end of their tirade, I was asked to “fix it.”
Fix it.
My response was to ask this person what solutions they had developed. What were the possible scenarios they had thought about to address their frustration?
“I thought that was your job…” was their response. “That’s why I came to you…so you can fix this.”
I suggested a couple of ways to address the issue, but neither option was acceptable to the person.
I asked them to take some time to reflect on possible solutions to their problem. If they couldn’t develop alternatives, I would need to move ahead with my own ideas on resolution.
I guess it’s a pet peeve of mine. If someone comes to me with a problem- they should at least bring a potential solution.
I’m such a hypocrite in my spiritual relationship with God, however. I realized this yesterday when I looked at my prayer journal.
I’m a complainer.
Oh….I realize that we are told to bring our concerns to God.
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. I Peter 5:7
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22
But my prayer notes looked like a laundry list of situations that I wanted God to “fix.” Instead if asking for wisdom and discernment on how to deal with each problem- I just laid it at His feet.
I had also done a great job of casting my cares, but very little to reflect on the great things that God was creating in my life.
I was complaining, but not submitting.
I was pointing out the problems, but not focusing on the blessings.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalms 106:1
My prayer this week is to spend less time complaining to God. I want to first focus on all the blessings He has granted me and acknowledge all of the good that God is stirring in my life.
I also want to ask for wisdom when dealing with life’s problems.
Please let me know how I may pray for you.
God bless.
Friday Word(s) 
Thank you for sharing. Transparency with God is a good starting point to invite dialogue with him and his people. The phrase “cried out to God” is mentioned numerous times in Scripture to invite us to seek Him out in hardship. That time of unloading should not be a rant but a confession and release. I hope others are encouraged to reach out to God and receive.
Thank you for sharing! I needed to hear this my friend:)
Thanks Keith for this insightful post! It is “spot on” and “right on time”. Today, I have been contemplating how best to deal with a few complainers – and, doing my best to balance the merits of the complaints with the inevitable, but not always related, frustrations of life that accompany them. “Fixing” aside, we can listen, demonstrate God’s love and, hopefully, lead complainers to an understanding of the decision – even if it is not the one that they envisioned. That must be a good aspiration as God deals with my complaints in much the same way.