Chesed

Also Moses said ... "For the LORD hears your complaints which you make against Him. And what are we? Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD." (Exodus 16:8 NKJV)

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness [chesed],
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
(Psalms 107:8,15,21,31 NKJV)

Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
(1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV)

The Complete Word Study Dictionary begins its definition of the Hebrew word chesed as "a masculine noun indicating kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, love, acts of kindness." Psalm 136 begins with the exhortation "Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!" and then extols, 26 times, "For His chesed endures forever."

Every complaint that falls from our lips or runs through our mind is, ultimately, a complaint against the Lord for what He has allowed in our lives with the intent that it work for good. Each complaint contends with the assertion of His chesed. The antidote to complaining for what is not is to give thanks for all that is.

Godliness means to emulate God and demonstrate chesed. To do it without complaining—with contentment, even thanksgiving—brings the great gain He intends.

God of God and Lord of lords, I give thanks to You for your chesed. I thank You for all Your wonder-filling works, throughout Your magnificent universe and in me. Please give us the ability to wait upon You and trust You even as we cry out to You for deliverance amid our suffering.

"We want God to change our circumstances, but God wants to use our circumstances to change us." — Unknown

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Copyright 2008, Anne Lang Bundy