Jesus wasn’t much of a complainer.

Once, in the Gospel of John he whined (well kind of) when he was about to be arrested.

He said, 'Now, my soul is troubled.’

Like I said, not much of a complainer.

But what he said after that is especially helpful.

Jesus believed that the tough times he endured actually had purpose.

This meant that Jesus not only refrained from complaining, but he actually urged God to get on with it, to bring on the trials, as if his job was to live into this purpose; ‘Father glorify your name.’

There’s not a tough time you and I face that Jesus is unacquainted with. He knows the trial and he knows there’s something to it.

So, what would it look like to face our trials like this?

What if we understood each of our trials as part of God’s purpose? Meaning that to complain was to go against that purpose?

Lord, we know complaining is not only unattractive, but it speaks of a lack of faith. So please give us pause when complaining and help us understand our trials as singular ways of bringing forth your purposes in the world.