Turn Complaints to Praise

“Do everything without complaining…”

Philippians 2:14

I received a wonderful note written by a man on kidney dialysis who said:  “Joni, when I was at the clinic, I at first I did a lot of complaining, but then I stopped when I focused on the Crucifixion.

Because in the kidney center, they helped me get out of my coat; but with Jesus, they brutally stripped off his… my nurses spoke a kind word; but Jesus only heard ‘Crucify him!’ … they gave me juice; Jesus got vinegar… I hardly felt the needle they put in my vein; but spikes were driven through Jesus. My blood was cleansed (on kidney dyalisis); his blood was made dirty with my sin.”

Oh, friend. This man with kidney disease learned that his complaining could turn to praise, simply by looking at the cross. So, today, take everything to the cross, and do it with me, would you? Imagine the cross, meditate on it, picture Jesus saying to you with his last breath, “I’m doing this for you,” and then let that melt your heart. It is one way to turn any complaint into praise.