And the people

       complained.....

        Numbers 11. 1

(Is that our

      first response?

Has that become

the pattern of our

  thoughts and words?

Complaining digs

   deep potholes

and depletes us

of the energy we need

   to get up the hill.

Grumbling verbalizes

a distrust of God,

the words of

  second-guessing

His love and goodness.

A pattern of complaint

   blocks our view,

increases our load,

and saps us of

        His strength

when we could be

walking with Him.)

O LORD,

We confess that we have

taken up patterns of

thoughts and words

that draw us away from You

        and trip us up.

Change our triggers,

               Almighty One,

that instead of griping

we may speak

  of Your lovingkindness

and find Your goodness in

    unexpected places.

Our hope is not dependent on

          circumstances,

   hard or favorable,

but on You,

    Master of the Universe

    and lover of our souls.

We have seen too much

   to question You in this.