Many Christians are great grumblers when laid on a bed of sickness. I once inquired from three Christian women, who were then ill, if they could explain this sad fact.
The first one I put the question to, a very true, earnest soul, who truly lives for Christ, at once said she had been thinking of the same thing, and had been going to ask me to talk to her about it. She thought it might be a purely physical cause, or else it was a Satanic influence.
The second one, almost bedridden and very poor, immediately replied,
“O, doctor, it is because we look inside instead of looking at Christ.”
The third, who is by far the most intelligent of the three from a spiritual point of view, said,
“Yes, you would grumble too if you had my outlook on life,” taking the question, I fear, as a personal one.
I must admit that she was greatly given to grumbling; but the Holy Spirit has applied my little question to her heart, and since that visit I have called upon her many times, and though her circumstances are the same, she has been very bright and happy.
The second patient answered the question aright. If we keep looking up at the blessed Lord we get grace for this pathway, however hard and difficult it may be. The Lord is always above our circumstances. If we look inside or around us we get occupied with self and what concerns self, and thus lose the joy of communion with Christ. May He give each one of us to be more occupied with Himself.