From Complaint to Meekness: Finding Our Perspective in the Wilderness

Do you ever feel like you’re complaining? Maybe it’s the same routine, the same little challenge popping up week after week, or perhaps it’s just the sheer weight of the world settling on your shoulders. We’ve all been there—feeling like we’d rather be back in the 'good old days' of some perceived ease, even when we know the Lord has prepared something wonderful for us right here, right now.

It’s a struggle that echoes through the scriptures, isn't it? Think about the Israelites in the wilderness. They were fed by manna—a miracle!—yet they complained, longing for the variety of food they had back in Egypt. They got sick of the blessing!

It’s a powerful reminder that even when the Lord provides abundantly, our human tendency is to get restless, to focus on what’s missing rather than what’s present. And when we get frustrated with the Lord, we can end up in a place of complaint, sometimes even feeling like we need to complain *to* Him.

I was listening to a recent podcast discussion on this, and it really resonated with me, especially when I thought about my own recent experiences. It wasn't a grand, dramatic failure, but it was a moment where my expectations—my *excitement*—got tangled up with my feelings of disappointment. When things didn't go according to the perfect plan I had built up in my heart, I felt devastated.

What I learned, and what I hope we can all keep remembering as we serve in the field or as we build our discipleship at home, is that true acceptance—the kind that comes from the Spirit—isn't just about saying the words. It’s about working hard to *feel* it. It’s about realizing that even if the immediate circumstances don't look like the perfect picture, the overarching blessing—the covenant, the family, the eternal plan—is what matters most.

The Gift of Meekness

The speaker shared that approaching the Lord with meekness isn't about being quiet or never having big emotions. It’s about bringing those big emotions—the frustration, the sadness, the exasperation—and *simultaneously* holding fast to the knowledge that the Lord loves us and knows what’s best. We don't approach Him to change His mind; we approach Him because it blesses *us*.

Meekness, in this context, is the spiritual muscle that allows us to see the reality: that even in the struggle, we have already won. It softens the struggle enough that we can see around it and rejoice anyway. It’s a gift that honors Him, but it blesses us just as much.

As we all strive to be better disciples, whether we are preparing for our mission, serving as returned missionaries, or simply trying to deepen our personal scripture study, this principle is vital. We can’t control the circumstances, but we can choose how we approach the One who does. We can choose to trade complaint for quiet trust.

Remember that the Lord has your best interest at heart. He loves you. Meekness over complaining is a gift that blesses us.

If you’re feeling the weight of comparison, or if a recent challenge has left you feeling drained, I encourage you to take this lesson with you. Don't wait for the perfect moment to feel peaceful; bring the mess, the anger, and the disappointment right to Him. Ask Him to help you see clearly.

For those of us who are in the thick of missionary preparation, or those of us who are just trying to strengthen our personal discipleship, I highly recommend diving into the scriptures on this topic. If you’re looking for deeper study, check out the Book Club or Bible Study Groups in HolyPlaces, or spend some time in the Social Scripture Study layer inside LivingBook. If you want to walk through what a tough question might look like from an investigator’s perspective, don’t forget to check in with Davee and ask him to run an AI Investigator session for you!

Let’s commit to being the kind of disciples who, when things get hard, choose meekness. That’s where the real strength—and the real joy—is found.