Have you ever been around someone who always seemed grumpy or complaining? We can usually spot it in others, but may not be aware of it in our own lives. This week on the podcast, we learn how to detect and fight back against the sin of complaining. Join us as we learn…

• How we convince ourselves a little complaining is OK
• The relationship of complaining to anxiety to failing to trust God
• Are we ever allowed to be frustrated or dissatisfied with our current circumstances?
• How Israel provides a “negative” case study in complaining
• A classic Puritan book about contentment
• 11 Practical Ways to Break the Bad Habit of Complaining

Full audio and notes are below. This is part 7 in an 8 week series on battling fear, worry, and anxiety. We hope this series is helping you think about anxiety from a biblical perspective and to grow in your faith!

DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT COMPLAINING
ANXIETY CLASS – WEEK 7

1. Introduction
• Have you ever been around a person who always seemed to be complaining? This sin is easy to spot in others, and can get annoying quickly. But what about us?
• Part of the challenge is that complaining seems like ________-telling.
• Philippians 2:14-16
• Complaining against God is never appropriate. See p. 120.

2. Discontentment in the Old Testament
• The Old Testament is written for our instruction and contains many examples, both positive and negative. See 1 Cor. 10:1-13
• Israel provides several examples of what not to do: do not desire evil (6), do not be idolaters (7), do not indulge in sexual immorality (8), do not put Christ to the test (9), do not grumble (10).
• Complaining is a deep-seated spiritual problem. See p. 122.

3. Contentment as a Command
• The opposite of complaining is contentment. It’s impossible to do both.
• Jeremiah Burroughs: “that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise, and fatherly disposal in every condition.”
• What do the following verses teach us about contentment?
Luke 3:14; 1 Tim. 6:6, 8; Heb. 13:5; James 5:9
• What if our circumstances are not desirable? Are we allowed to pray for change, or even strive to improve our situation? Absolutely! Contentment is not the same as idleness or passivity. We can work hard, pray fervently, and seek to make our situation better. Meanwhile, we must have a heart that rests in the sovereignty of God and finds contentment and joy in all circumstances.

4. Reasons Behind the Command
• For Your Own Sake – you are children of God
• For the Sake of Non-Christians – your witness is at stake. See p. 127.

5. Eleven Practical Ways to Put Off Complaining
• Take note of your speech. Your words, the topics, the tone. Go back and read some of your social media posts or journal entries (James 3:2-5; Ps. 139:23-24)
• Memorize a scripture about complaining (Phil. 2:14-16; James 5:9)
• Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you when you drift into complaining (Rom. 8:13)
• Ask a friend to “buzz” you when you complain (Prov. 27:6; Ecc. 4:9-10)
• Think of a time you made a major mistake and someone showed you grace.
• Ponder what you actually deserve right now (Rom. 6:23; Rev. 21:8)
• Don’t compare yourself to others. Just follow Christ (Jn. 21:23)
• Remember God working this out for good (Gen. 50:20; Rom. 8:28)
• Make a list of things you’re thankful for. Ask how is this “good rejoicing practice”?
• Develop a heart of compassion for those who have it worse than you (Micah 6:8)
• Choose to associate with people who build up rather than tear down (1 Cor. 15:33)