I Won't Complain

You probably know the song, I Won’t Complain, by Rev. Paul Jones.  I frequently listen to this on my way to work to remind me that, “He’s been good to me!”  It’s easy for me to get to work and see a pile of emails, requests that each require a number of steps to complete, and start complaining.  I don’t necessarily complain to my colleagues, but I do roll my eyes and grumble under my breath.  

One thing I most certainly complained about was my employer’s announcement that they were changing our pay schedule.  I’ve been employed and paid once per month since 1998.  I know that a monthly pay schedule would be a hard NO for most people, but I was accustomed to it.  Bills come once per month, so once I paid my bills, the rest was mine.  From 1998 until 2024, my paycheck hit the bank on the 25th of every month.  In July 2024 it changed to the last business day of the month - and that was an adjustment for me!  The announcement that we would be paid on the 15th and 30th - whew - I complained!  When we received the email about the change of pay schedule I walked to the office of a coworker and shared my distaste of the change.  He said, “Kim, you know you’re suffering from a first world problem…”  True, but what was I going to do with half of a paycheck?  All of my bills were set to draft on a particular date, now I would have to change them; and what about the fact that I have my paycheck split between two different banks?  Did this mean I would need to tithe twice each month - I had all the questions!  I just went through changing dates when my paycheck moved from the 25th to the last business day of the month, now I’d have to do it again!  I seriously dreaded this change!

I prayed that the Lord would make it alright!  I consoled myself by thinking maybe He was preparing me for a future job that would pay twice per month, so He wanted me to get accustomed to it now.  On September 30, we were paid a full month’s salary, then on October 15 we received our first half of a paycheck, then on October 30 we received half of a paycheck, then on November 15 we received half of a paycheck, and you know what - I kinda like this!  My account doesn’t get nearly as low on this schedule!  I haven’t received any notifications stating, “Your account is trending towards $0.”  My finances seem more stable.  I didn’t even change my drafts, and they are fine!  Honestly, I feel pretty stupid for dreading something that the majority of employers have done for years!  I wonder how many more good employees we can attract with this semi-monthly pay schedule!

Complaining is not a Fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23, in fact, complaining could taint our fruit.  One who complains may be perceived as lacking in joy, peace or forbearance, so we must quell our complaining spirit.  

When we complain, we voice a lack of trust in the One who is, was and is to come.  As mankind, our knowledge and wisdom are severely limited.  Our brains think and plan all day, and sometimes our minds venture beyond their boundaries into the realm that only God knows.  When we don’t know the answer we worry, we complain, we become fearful, and fill-in the unknown blanks with answers that may not be from God.  Job 38:4-7   
4Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?  
  Tell me, if you understand.
5Who marked off its dimensions?
  Surely you know!  Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6On what were its footings set, 
  or who laid its cornerstone--
7while the morning stars sang together 
  and all the angels shouted for joy?

Another song I really like is Every Blessing by Brian Courtney Wilson.  The chorus, “Teach me how to receive every blessing.”  This song is a reminder that while I go about my days working, being a mother and a wife, and just doing things I see that need to be done, that God is working too!  There are countless things He is doing that go unnoticed.  I pray that God will open my eyes that I see and receive every blessing.  When I say I was worried about this pay schedule change, I was worried and complained to everyone who would listen!  And now that it’s in effect, I realize that I was dreading a blessing.  This change was for my good.  As Brian Courtney Wilson says in reference to Romans 8:28, “Give me the wisdom to understand how things work together for my good in your plan.”  Amen!


Thank you for reading!  Please share with some others you know! 
Have a blessed week!
​Kim