I Can’t Complain

I’ve had bad days, and I’ve had hills to climb
I’ve had sad days, and often a weary mind
But when I look around, and I think these things all out
All of the good days, out weigh the bad days, I can’t complain

God is so good to me; yes He’s so good to me
More than this world could be, He’s so good to me
His Spirit came to me, and gave me Victory
God is so good to me, I can’t complain

Romans 5:3 tell us that our trials are good for us, and that they help us to learn to endure. I have found over the course of the past year or so, that though trials may seemingly overtake us, God is so good and is teaching us how to trust and lean upon Him. Our reliance is not unto ourselves, but is solely in the Lord. Over the past year or so my family has endured many things…my wife suffered a miscarriage in January of 2005…my wife was laid off in September of 2005, and came to find out she was pregnant. While we were happy at the prospect of having another child, we were trying to figure out how we’d financially take care of an extra child with an unemployed spouse (we need the second income) and wondering who in the world would hire a pregnant woman. In our struggle for answers, my wife had another miscarriage in November. Through it all, we were wondering what the Lord is doing with us. We appreciate the fact that He trusted us enough to give us these tests, but sometimes you honestly feel enough is enough! Though it’s been 5 months since the last miscarriage, we are both still wrestling with the whys. But through it all I have gained a newfound respect for my wife, as I have seen her become a much stronger person, though she may not think so.

Still dealing with the above circumstances among other things over the past year, a song written over 30 years ago continues to come to my mind called, “I Can’t Complain” written by a gentleman named Don Johnson. The second verse of the song says it so well for me…

Sometimes the clouds hang low, and I’d like to see them go
And then I question, “Lord why so much pain”
But He knows what’s best for me, although I cannot see
So I’ll just say “Thank you Lord”, I can’t complain

I don’t know how people who don’t know the Lord go through such adversity. I’m so thankful that I have a God I can call upon and lean on when I don’t know what to do. I have an Advocate with the Father who hears my pleas and feels my pain and continually gives me strength. (I John 2:1)

I don’t know why we have to go through these valleys that seem to come one right after another. I do know we all have our crosses to bear and the Bible tells us that it rains on both the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45), though sometimes we feel we’re the only ones going through the trials. But I do know it’s through these times, God wants to see us grow stronger in Him and realize that it’s not by our own strength, but it’s through His strength that we get through. After all, it’s part of our continual perfection.

I guess it’s like the old hymn that says, “Some through the water, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood, some through great sorry, but GOD GIVES A SONG…in the night season and all the day long.” Yes, in our night season, God gives a song. A song of praise and thanksgiving, that He has brought us through yet, another storm, another heartache, another trial. And He loves infinitely more than we will ever fathom in this life, and when we begin to scratch the surface of that love, mercy and grace, we bow with a thankful heart and realize that we really can’t complain much at all.

"I Can’t Complain"
Don Johnson/Centerpoint Music Company/BMI

What Are You Looking At?  (Originally posted 10/06/04)

I love looking at people. I’ve always been that way. I love going to the mall, going to concerts, etc. and looking at people and just wondering about their lives. I’ll be the first to admit that I am about as nosy as they come! But I do wonder…what do they do? What is their life like? What kind of person are they? Why do they look so sad? What are they smiling or laughing at? What are they talking about with their companion? Do their kids act like that all the time? Do they know Jesus? Do they know who Vestal Goodman was? (Just kidding with the last one…LOL!)

I really do wonder though, about these people. Even driving down the road or at a stoplight, I will turn and look at whoever is in the car next to me. Sometimes I notice they seem sad. Sometimes I breathe a prayer for them, for whatever they may be going through. Sometimes they seem happy, and I ultimate find, that I end up smiling myself!
One time I was sitting at a stoplight. I turned and looked at the car next to me and in the passenger’s seat was the most beautiful head of thick, long red hair I had ever seen. I thought, “She must be a beautiful person”. I kept staring hoping she would turn around so I could see her face. Just before the light changed, her head started to turn. I could feel the excitement boiling within me as I anticipated what she would look like. Just as the light changed, she turned and looked at me and she was the most beautiful red longhaired, Labrador retriever I had ever seen! With my mouth wide open with surprise, the car drove off and left me sitting at the light, laughing my head off!

As George Younce would say, “That didn’t happen, I just made that up!” But, it made you laugh!

I have seen some interesting sights in my life though, watching folks and looking at them and observing them. Sometimes I wonder, “God…what were you thinking?” God has such a sense of humor! I look at the mirror everyday and wonder what He was thinking when he made me! LOL! But I know God is sovereign, and He knew exactly what he was doing when He made us. I am thankful that no matter what we look like, how we dress, or what we’ve done with our lives, He loves us, and desires to have an intimate relationship with us.