MURMUR NOT

The week was almost to an end. I could hardly wait until Saturday. I counted the days as they unfolded. Saturday had finally come. I started my Saturday, as usual, having my devotion with the Lord. Having a quiet breakfast, yogurt, and fruit, looking at the clock to strike 10 am, to begin my Saturday morning shopping. This particular Saturday morning I had a deep craving for what I truly desired for my once-a-week indulgence, a sticky pecan cinnamon bun.

All week I had craved for this with anticipation for my reward of this marvelous satisfaction of its delightful taste. I could hardly wait and that Saturday morning there I was standing in one of my favorite coffee houses. I dashed through the door with excitement. My eyes were filled with delight, after all, I only eat one pastry a week. That’s my motto for my life, with a non-fat decaffeinated latte. This is as perfect as it gets for my weekend treat after I go shopping. There it was, glistering through the glass-shelved case. There was only one sticky pecan cinnamon bun left. And I said to myself “Thank you, Jesus! I know you preserved that last sticky bun for me.” There were about two people in front of me. The person that was placing their order got the sticky bun. I was livid! I could not believe it. I literally lifted up my voice to a low-medium volume, but of course, an indoor voice, and said, “I can’t believe this. I have been waiting all week for a sticky bun” and I asked, “Are there any left?” And they said, “No ” vehemently. I shook my head from side to side and before you knew it I was next in line. The young woman said, “How can I help you?” and I said, again “I can’t believe that was the last sticky bun and it’s gone.” The young lady who waited on me gave me a blank look. So did the customers behind me. I ordered my nonfat decaffeinated latte without any other pastry and left upset. I literally destroyed my own situation and dimmed my own light.

Since then I have had many disappointments of dreams and hopes, big and small. We all have been saddened and disappointed by our hopes and dreams that are in our hearts. Every human being has been shut down, let down, looked down, and put down, one way or another. In my situation, I was let down, although it was a small matter, my little heart was sad for a few minutes. But hope came quickly as it always does. Please understand, beloved, what I did although it was a minute matter, caused me not to get that sticky bun. Not because it was the last one, but because I murmured (complained). I literally dimmed the light of Christ that shines in me and all Christians. Jesus Christ is in us and the hope of glory. Although the light of Christ will forever shine in me until I meet my Savior Jesus, but we can all dim our lights with our grumbling and murmuring (complaining) especially in a low-pitched tone of griping format. I had a sort of higher pitch, that’s my nature. Nevertheless, I murmured and I only had a flicker of light left.

God could and would have done a miracle for me if I had only obeyed His word. Although this was many years ago, I definitely knew better, not because I was disappointed, but because I murmured. Our God in heaven could have moved in their hearts to bring one out just for me if I had not murmured. If I had said, “I would like a sticky pecan cinnamon bun please?” Clearly looking and beholding that there were none left in the glass case, the person who waited on me could have said, “There is no more left here but let me go in the back and bring you one out.” God says in His word that He will perfect everything that concerns me and you, even a sticky bun. God could have moved and done a miracle if only I was obedient to His word.

However, I have had many disappointments and I am learning, through the course of my life, to never murmur about anything ever. It is a daily process as a Christian and woman of God. There is no quicker way for God to remove His hand of blessing off of our lives than when we murmur (complain) about something small or large. Many of you are saying, “but you don’t understand, things are very horrible for me right now, especially with this virus on the rise. Nothing is going well. I’ve lost my job, relatives and friends have passed away because of this terrible pandemic. Why can’t I complain about that? It’s my situation, my life, and it’s not good. I have the right to murmur about my own affairs if they are not going as I think they should. It’s my life.” Yes, beloved, it is your life, but when you are a born-again Christian, your life belongs to God. We were all bought with a price, not of silver and gold, but by the blood of Jesus Christ. Your lives do not belong to you any longer. Of course, beloved, God gives you free will to make your own decisions. We are free but we have a heavenly Father who knows what is good and proper for us.

When we, as Christians, murmur, the world will see it as we are trying to provoke a small war or confrontation. The world literally believes that we are being antagonistic and trying to cause havoc on their jobs or any situation. This is far from the truth, but to the world, this is their thinking and it is perverse, indeed. It doesn’t make any sense to Christians, but God knows the hearts of all men, saved or not saved. God says to let your light shine in this crooked, perverse nation or nations, that we will be harmless in what we are doing. We as Christians never want to harm anyone, ever, but to the world, they do not know Jesus. To the world, they see murmuring as contempt, especially if they can’t help you in the situation. Walk circumspectly and be wise, and understand and know that murmuring is the ultimate stumbling block for a Christian.

God slew thousands of His people in the old days because of murmuring. Many Israelites died in the wilderness because of murmuring. This also reflects a faithless heart toward God telling Him that He cannot provide when indeed we know He can do anything and everything but fail. God is our heavenly Father and in this dispensation, He does not slay any of His people for murmuring, but many of our situations are put to death (that is to have no life or vitality) because of our murmuring. Beloved, try not to murmur and you will see the root of blessings bloom up in your life. Oh, beloved, I can see it now, that flickering light of yours is getting brighter and brighter every time you don’t murmur. The flame of Christ that dwells in you is larger than your situation. Stop murmuring when things go wrong. Stop murmuring when you have heartaches and disappointments. Stop murmuring when you experience a loss, stop murmuring when all else has failed. Stop murmuring and give God the glory and thanksgiving. Thank God in good and bad situations. This tells your heavenly Father that you trust and believe that He is going to make it alright because God loves you with an everlasting love.

Since that time so very long ago at that small corner coffee house, I have had many sticky buns, and each time they were so delicious, and I thank God because it is truly a treat for me because I don’t eat a lot of desserts, only once a week. I’m grateful. I am learning never to complain about anything, whether it’s small or large and you do the same, beloved. Let your light shine so that you will be harmless in the world. Murmur not! Amen.

“Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (I CORINTHIANS 10: 10-11).

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (PHILIPPIANS 2:14-15).

Glory be to God,

Reverend Helen Trower