From Grumbling to Gratitude
By Ryan Dawson
Over the past while, I’ve been building a cedar log sauna on our property. It’s been slow, steady, and honestly, really satisfying work. There’s something meaningful about shaping something with your hands, piece by piece. I can finally see the finish line… but getting there hasn’t been without its challenges.
Right now, I’m stuck on the stove installation.
I purchased a beautiful, legitimate wood-burning sauna stove—crafted in Estonia, the real deal. But here’s the problem: in Canada, there are no certified wood-burning sauna stoves that meet current regulations. So, what should be a straightforward next step has turned into a maze of permits, insurance issues, and red tape that feels, at times, completely unreasonable.
To be honest… I’ve been pretty grumpy about it.
Frustrated. Irritated. Discouraged. Complaining more than I’d like to admit.
And then I read this line from Jesus Calling: “Let thankfulness temper all your thoughts. A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with me. I hate it when My children grumble, casually despising my sovereignty. Thankfulness is a safeguard against this deadly sin.”
That stopped me in my tracks. I felt it immediately—the gentle but unmistakable conviction of the Holy Spirit. Busted!
My frustration wasn’t just about permits or policies. Beneath it, there was something deeper: a resistance to what God had allowed into my life. My grumbling wasn’t neutral—it was revealing something in my heart. In a subtle way, I was pushing back against God’s sovereign & loving plan.
Scripture puts it even more seriously: “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” (1 Corinthians 10:10) Did you read that?
Grumbling is not a small thing. It’s not just venting. It’s not harmless. It’s spiritually dangerous because it hardens our hearts and blinds us to God’s presence and purpose. It kills us spiritually speaking.
So, I’ve had to ask myself:
Could this frustrating situation actually be for my good?
What is God trying to teach me?
How does He want me to grow through this?
I’ve been reminded of a principle from The No Complaining Rule by Jon Gordon: You can’t build a positive life with a negative spirit. Complaining drains energy, spreads discouragement, and keeps us stuck. But gratitude? Gratitude changes everything. It shifts our focus from what’s wrong to what God is doing.
That doesn’t mean pretending things aren’t difficult. It means choosing to trust God in the middle of the difficulty.
For me, that looks like this:
Instead of complaining about the delays, I thank God for the provision to even build a sauna.
Instead of resenting the process, I ask God what He’s shaping in me through it.
Instead of allowing my heart to be discouraged I look forward to the hope of how God will provide.
Instead of focusing on what’s out of my control, I rest in the One who is in control.
I’m still working through this. I don’t have it mastered. But I’m learning that:
I need to eliminate complaining and elevate thankfulness. I suspect you do as well.
Because thankfulness keeps our hearts soft.
It keeps us connected to Jesus.
And it reminds us that even in frustration, God is at work—for our good and His glory.
Blessings, Ryan
Over the past while, I’ve been building a cedar log sauna on our property. It’s been slow, steady, and honestly, really satisfying work. There’s something meaningful about shaping something with your hands, piece by piece. I can finally see the finish line… but getting there hasn’t been without its challenges.
Right now, I’m stuck on the stove installation.
I purchased a beautiful, legitimate wood-burning sauna stove—crafted in Estonia, the real deal. But here’s the problem: in Canada, there are no certified wood-burning sauna stoves that meet current regulations. So, what should be a straightforward next step has turned into a maze of permits, insurance issues, and red tape that feels, at times, completely unreasonable.
To be honest… I’ve been pretty grumpy about it.
Frustrated. Irritated. Discouraged. Complaining more than I’d like to admit.
And then I read this line from Jesus Calling: “Let thankfulness temper all your thoughts. A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with me. I hate it when My children grumble, casually despising my sovereignty. Thankfulness is a safeguard against this deadly sin.”
That stopped me in my tracks. I felt it immediately—the gentle but unmistakable conviction of the Holy Spirit. Busted!
My frustration wasn’t just about permits or policies. Beneath it, there was something deeper: a resistance to what God had allowed into my life. My grumbling wasn’t neutral—it was revealing something in my heart. In a subtle way, I was pushing back against God’s sovereign & loving plan.
Scripture puts it even more seriously: “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.” (1 Corinthians 10:10) Did you read that?
Grumbling is not a small thing. It’s not just venting. It’s not harmless. It’s spiritually dangerous because it hardens our hearts and blinds us to God’s presence and purpose. It kills us spiritually speaking.
So, I’ve had to ask myself:
Could this frustrating situation actually be for my good?
What is God trying to teach me?
How does He want me to grow through this?
I’ve been reminded of a principle from The No Complaining Rule by Jon Gordon: You can’t build a positive life with a negative spirit. Complaining drains energy, spreads discouragement, and keeps us stuck. But gratitude? Gratitude changes everything. It shifts our focus from what’s wrong to what God is doing.
That doesn’t mean pretending things aren’t difficult. It means choosing to trust God in the middle of the difficulty.
For me, that looks like this:
Instead of complaining about the delays, I thank God for the provision to even build a sauna.
Instead of resenting the process, I ask God what He’s shaping in me through it.
Instead of allowing my heart to be discouraged I look forward to the hope of how God will provide.
Instead of focusing on what’s out of my control, I rest in the One who is in control.
I’m still working through this. I don’t have it mastered. But I’m learning that:
I need to eliminate complaining and elevate thankfulness. I suspect you do as well.
Because thankfulness keeps our hearts soft.
It keeps us connected to Jesus.
And it reminds us that even in frustration, God is at work—for our good and His glory.
Blessings, Ryan