Early Sunday morning as the sun was just coming up, I rushed downstairs to mix up some corn muffins for that day’s church luncheon. In my hurry, I accidentally spilled cornmeal onto the counter, then half asleep, I poured too much water into the mixture. In frustration, I poured the soupy mix down the garbage disposal.

Now I was in trouble.

The destructive self-talk kicked in, “How dare you, Donna, to think you can whip up corn muffins at daybreak. You can’t bake, so why even try.”

On and on and on … my mind swarmed with negatives until I was extremely frustrated.

“OK, stop it. Start over,” I told myself.

But this time, I needed help.

“God, the first batch was my mess,” I prayed. “Help me with this second batch. This little bit of cornmeal is all that I have left to make muffins.”

I proceeded to start over again with the remaining cornmeal and the recipe items called for — an egg, and this time a little water. Absolutely nothing was measured out. Now with only nine muffin cups filled, I tossed them into the oven, fully expecting them to turn out.

Sitting back and waiting for the timer to go off, I knew that my grumbling and complaining was wrong. It was setting my day off on wrong footing, allowing the enemy to gain a stronghold into my heart, separating me from God’s heart.

What settled down my upset was that I had turned the second batch over to him.  He took control. I released myself to him to take charge this time, which I should have done initially.

God detests grumbling and complaining. Philippians 2:14 states, “Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining (against God) and questioning and doubting (among yourselves).” That’s a pretty clear command, isn’t it?

Grumbling and complaining are absolutely destructive. It amounts to not trusting or leaning on God. He does not want us to go to that place.

The first complaining human being was Adam. And what was Adam’s first complaint? “God, the woman You gave me.” (Genesis 3:12).

And then there were more complainers.

Remember when Moses said, “Lord, why did you send me?” (Exodus 5:22). There were numerous occasions when Moses complained and got himself into a real fix with God.

None of us are guiltless. We have all been guilty of complaining about something that struck a wrong note within us.

At the sound of the timer, I opened the oven door to see that these muffins looked like what I fully expected them to look — moist and tender. They even dropped into the muffin basket without sticking. Wow! I knew then that God heard and answered my prayer.

No “luck nor coincidence” about it at all. He guided the baking process at the second try and deserves all praise for who he is and what he does for us.

“Thank you, Lord!”

Shared with you by Donna Hubbard