40 Daysof Lint, Day Thirty-Eight: Grumble Bunnies

Have you ever noticed that the Easter Bunny is a cheerful fellow? He scampers about delivering candy eggs with energy and an exuberant smile. He's happy about the season regardless of the weather or his personal problems (you know there has to be stress with that many deliveries to make!). He’s the poster child of happiness. Of course, he's a fictional character, so we can make him whatever we want him to be.

We, on the other hand, are living, breathing bearers of the Good News of Easter. Yet, much of the time we don’t seem so happy about it. I know I’m guilty of getting bogged down in the details of life - finances, physical limitations, and daily challenges. Worse yet, I realize how often I complain about them. That’s definitely a dust bunny that needs to clear out.

Jesus is the Star of Easter, and we’re the little lights pointing the way to Him. Grumbling and complaining dims our effectiveness. These verses always inspire me to do better in this area:

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Philippians 2:14-16).

Really, Lord? Do everything without grumbling? Everything? Even the menial, repetitious, everyday stuff? Even when I’m running late and get stuck in traffic? Even when there’s potholes everywhere and it’s pouring down rain...still? Even when an evil virus shuts down my computer and I lose important files? Even when other people are rude to me? And His answer is, “Yep.”

How can we? Is it really possible? Only with God! It’s all about perspective. I tend to focus too much on the problems and obstacles at hand. God wants us to focus on the victory already won. Every day is a celebration of Jesus’ finished work on the cross and the freedom we have in Him. Our sins are forgiven and we have a future in heaven. We have a purpose here because everything we do in this life is for Him, and He gives us whatever we need to do the work.

We may not be happy in the circumstances of every moment, but we can have deep, abiding joy within. And Easter is one of the two biggest days of the Christian year, so we have reason for JOY. We can’t dredge it up or paste it on - it has to come from a real, every day relationship with Jesus Christ. JOY is God’s gift and there for the asking.

So let’s hop to it and have an egg-stra special holy week celebrating the Good News! Rather than join in with all the grumblers at the grocery store and work place, let’s exude praise that makes people ask where we get our hope (1 Peter 3:15). After all, who wants to get shown up by an imaginary bunny?

Lint Removed: Grumbling

Cleaning Process: Filled Up and Focused on Jesus