“Corrie, we must thank God for the fleas.”
“Even God can’t make me thankful for a flea!” Corrie returned.
Corrie and her sister Betsie ten Boom were crowded into a single bunk in a German concentration camp. They had been arrested for helping Jews during World War 2.
The bunk they shared, along with every other bunk in their barracks, was infested with fleas. And Betsie insisted they must thank God for the irritating creatures.
“Corrie, the Bible says in everything, give thanks.”
Lord, Make Us a Thankful People
During a time of prayer and worship recently, the worship leader prayed, “Lord, make us a thankful people.”
Such a simple prayer.
As I pondered her prayer I realized how prone I am to take the Lord’s goodness for granted and to forget to praise Him. And even worse, how quick I am to grumble and complain about inconveniences far more minor than a flea-infested bed in the middle of a German concentration camp.
And yet over and over in scripture, we are commanded to give thanks. Over and over we are warned not to grumble and complain.
About Complaining
Each of us has our way of getting what we want. For some, it’s smooth-talking. Others, pouting.
The Israelites preferred method of trying to get their way was grumbling and complaining.
As they traveled through the wilderness on their way to the promised land, they complained because they wanted meat, bread, water, a new leader.
Not just once or twice. But over and over again we read in the Bible, “And the people complained.”
God, who had miraculously freed them from Egypt, parted the red sea, turned bitter water sweet, fed them with bread from heaven every day, and sent quail for meat, hated the complaining of His people.
He hated it so much that on one occasion He sent fire from heaven to consume the complainers.
“Now when the people complained it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1-3)
In Philippians, we are given a direct command to not complain.
“Do all things without complaining and disputing that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and reverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (2:14-15)
Why does the Bible tell us not to complain? That you may become blameless and harmless, without fault, and shine as a light in this dark generation.
Our choice not to complain is actually a way we can live as a witness of Jesus Christ.
About Thankfulness
If God hates complaining, and if living without complaining is a way that we bear witness to the gospel, we must exchange our grumbling tongues for a thankful heart.
The best weapon to fight complaining is thankfulness.
As Betsie reminded Corrie, God says “in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thes. 5:18)
It’s not just a nicer way to live. Giving thanks in everything is God’s will for your life.
If you find yourself constantly struggling with a grumbling tongue, here are a few ways to begin cultivating a thankful heart.
1. Repent
Complaining is sin. The only way to deal with sin is to bring it to the cross and leave it there. Confess your sin to God, accept His forgiveness and then trust in His grace to walk forward in a life of thankfulness.
2. Express Gratitude
If you’re stuck in a cycle of complaining, chances are you immediately look for the worst in every situation. You look for something to criticize.
Instead, start looking for something to praise and express thanks for it. Practice expressing thanks to both the Lord and to others for the small things you are grateful for.
3.Meditate on God’s character
We will become a thankful people to the extent that we understand and know God’s goodness. The only way to know Him is to spend time with Him.
Open your Bible daily and read how God has always been faithful. Read of His great love for mankind and His plan of salvation. As we grow in our understanding of God’s goodness and love, our tongues will cease their complaints and pour forth praise without bidding.
How Giving Thanks Turned Fleas into a Blessing
Betsie prayed, giving thanks to God for their prison barracks, fellow prisoners, and yes, even the fleas. As she chose to trust God’s goodness, even in the midst of one of history’s darkest places, she was not ashamed.
Those fleas were indeed one of God’s unexpected blessings.
Because of the fleas, the guards refused to enter their barracks. This left Corrie and Betsie free to share the gospel with many women and even hold prayer meetings and Bible studies in their barracks. Without the fleas, they never would have been able to do this.
A complaining people are people who either do not know or do not trust their God’s goodness. But a thankful people are people who do both.
They are a people who know their God and know that He is good even in the flea-infested prison barracks.
And they are a people who trust their God’s goodness enough thank Him for those fleas, even when all they seem to do is bite.
Lord, make us a thankful people. A people who know and trust You enough to rejoice always and in everything give thanks.