Aiming Our Complaints (1)

We see here how to frame our complaints. David complains not of God, nor of his troubles, nor of others, but of his own soul; he complains of himself to himself. As if he said, 'Though all other things be out of order, yet O my soul, you should not trouble me too, you should not betray yourself to troubles, but rule over them.' A godly man complains to God, yet not of God, but of himself. A carnal man is ready to justify himself and complain of God, he complains not to God, but of God. He complains of the grievance that lies upon him, but never regards what is amiss within himself. Openly he cries out about bad fortune, yet secretly he strikes at God; while he quarrels with that which is nothing, he attacks him that is the cause of all things. Like a man with gout who complains of his shoe, or an anguished man of his drink, when the cause is from within. Likewise, men are disquieted with others, when they should rather be disquieted and angry with their own hearts.
We condemn Jonah for contending with God, and justifying his unjust anger, yet the same risings are in men naturally if shame would allow them to give vent to their secret discontent. Their heart speaks what Jonah with his tongue spoke. Oh, but here we should lay our hand upon our mouth, and adore God, and command silence to our souls.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Soul's Conflict with Itself, Works, vol. 1, p. 151
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.