Courage to continue

I was watching the movie Alvin and chipmunks and what got my attention in the beginning was Alvin's complaint and frustration. Alvin and his brother's were busy working to store food in a tree for the winter. Something went wrong and out of dissatisfaction Alvin told his brother’s, that’s it, I can't take this anymore. I can't and I give up! I am sick of struggling for survival and he was especially sick of the tree they were in.

Every year in the fall, chipmunks spend most of their time climbing trees to gather nuts, fruits, and seeds for the winter. I could not understand why he would complain if gathering nuts, fruits, and seeds was expected of him and it needed to be done.

Question - did Alvin really have a reason to complain? Like Alvin, some of us today are tired, frustrated, and have even found ourselves complaining and asking God questions about some of our problems and current situations. After everything God has done for us, do we really have a reason to complain?

In the book of Jeremiah chapter 12, we find the prophet unhappy and complaining about injustice. He is asking God why the ways of the wicked prosper and why he continues to bless them. Like Jeremiah and Alvin, I'm sure at times we find ourselves complaining about the same problems. God I'm tired and I can't take this anymore, I am sick of struggling for survival, and I am especially sick of my surrounding.

God heard Jeremiah's complaint and answered him...
Jeremiah 12:5 -- If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan? (niv)

God wants us to know that the obstacles we face and the race we are running today is nothing compared to what is ahead of us. We shouldn't be in a position to complain and if we start now then how are we going to make it when the journey gets hard?

God’s response in Jeremiah 12:5 was also a way of letting us know that it is time we stop complaining and start asking God to give us the courage to continue especially if you we are doing the work and will of God.

Isaiah 40:31 -- but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Galatians 6:9 -- Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (niv)

1 Corinthians 9:24 -- Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.