Top o’ the Mornin’ to Ya!
TLDR: Discover how complaining, grudges, and triggers form a destructive cycle that keeps you trapped in negativity. Learn the biblical concept of “forward-giving” (forgiveness) as the key to breaking free from this pattern and living the abundant life Christ offers Kingdom Family Leaders.
What?
Are you a complainer? Do you like to complain? Philippians talks about don’t be grumbling or complaining about anything. Do you hold any grudges? Somebody in Mastermind yesterday talked about grudge holding and how it’s just a placeholder to give us something to complain about because we’re addicted to the complaining.
So let’s get rid of the grudges because we don’t need to complain. Stop it! Do you have any triggers? What is a trigger? Triggers are mind-driven old grudges! And you just got rid of all your grudges! So you don’t have any grudges! So your triggers have become rendered useless! They have nothing to grab.
So now you don’t have any grudges! You don’t have any triggers! Your triggers just remind you of old things that you’ve already processed! And if you haven’t processed them, and you still have grudges, and you still have triggers – forgiveness is the freedom! Forward giving! Forward giving! Forward giving!
I never want to go back to that old trigger! I never want to go back to that old thought! Oh, there I go! I’m complaining again! Quit the complaining! Drop the grudges! Drop the triggers! Because you process the grudges and the things that you’re complaining about because you used forgiveness!
Forward giving! It reminds me of the movie Pay It Forward! Forward giving! Take forward giving! Grasp it in your hand! And live an abundant and profound life! And remember, Jesus Christ died for your sins! So there’s nothing to be grudging about, complaining about, or triggering about because he forward gave! Oh! I like that! He forward gave all my sins past, present and future! We are empowered to be like him, to forward give, to be free of triggers, to be free of complaining, and to be free of grudges.
Why?
I share this because it stinks to be trapped in a destructive cycle without realizing it. We hold grudges, which give us material to complain about, which creates triggers that keep us mentally rehearsing old hurts. This cycle keeps us focused on the past instead of living in the abundant life Christ offers.
The connection between complaining, grudges, and triggers is profound. Grudges are essentially unprocessed hurts that we hold onto, giving us something to complain about. Triggers are the emotional reactions to current situations that remind us of those old grudges. When we’re addicted to complaining, we actually need the grudges to fuel our negativity.
This pattern directly contradicts the biblical command to “do all things without grumbling or complaining” and keeps us from experiencing the freedom Christ died to give us.
Lesson
The cycle works like this: grudges create material for complaining, complaining reinforces the grudges, and triggers keep both active in your daily experience. Breaking this cycle requires understanding that triggers are just mind-driven old grudges, and when you process the grudges through forgiveness, the triggers lose their power.
“Forward-giving” (forgiveness) is the key to freedom. True forgiveness isn’t just letting go of the past – it’s actively giving forward, choosing to bless instead of curse, to build up instead of tear down. When you forward-give, you’re following Christ’s example who “forward gave” all your sins – past, present, and future.
The biblical principle is clear: since Jesus forward-gave all our sins, we have no justification for holding grudges, complaining about our circumstances, or being controlled by triggers. We’re empowered to be like Him, to forward-give others, and to live free from the destructive cycle of negativity.
This doesn’t mean ignoring real issues or pretending hurt doesn’t exist. It means processing the hurt through forgiveness so it doesn’t control your present and future.
Apply
Identify one grudge you’ve been holding that gives you material to complain about. Write down how this grudge shows up as triggers in your current life. This week, practice “forward-giving” by actively choosing to bless that person or situation instead of rehearsing the complaint.
When you catch yourself complaining, ask “What grudge is this complaint feeding?” Then choose to forward-give instead of feeding the negative cycle. Remember that Jesus forward-gave all your sins, so you’re empowered to do the same for others.
You be blessed!
Forward-Giving: Breaking Free from the Complaining-Grudge-Trigger Cycle
