Grumbling and Complaining

Grumbling and complaining, I asked, “Why, God? I don’t understand why I pray and pray, and nothing happens!”

Grumbling and Complaining Become Habits

My husband and I wanted a family. We had been married for four years, but pregnancy eluded me. Fertility tests revealed no problems. I was desperate and sad, and I grumbled. Our friends all had one or two children. My desire for a child consumed my waking thoughts. My grumbling and complaining became a habit.

Once we open the door to complaining, it’s difficult to find contentment with anything.

In Numbers 21, the Israelites expressed their complaints against Moses and God. Rather than being grateful for the manna and all of God’s protection and miracles, they criticized everything. “‘And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.’” (Numbers 21:5)

Grumbling is Sin

Finally, God sent poisonous serpents among the people, and many of them died. The serpents got their attention, and they confessed their sin against God and Moses. As an Old Testament type of Christ, Moses interceded for them. However, rather than removing the serpents that represented their sin, God ordered Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it high on a pole. When someone was bitten by a serpent, they looked to the bronze serpent, and they were healed.

In John 3:14, Jesus said the bronze serpent represented Him. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” When we look up to Jesus, He takes away our sins and gives us eternal life. Christ’s example teaches us to please and not anger God.

Guard Against Wrong Attitudes

As believers, the Holy Spirit guards our hearts and reminds us of God’s goodness. He examines our thoughts and gives us an attitude of gratitude. In all things, God works for our good (Romans 8:28).

 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast to the word of life … Philippians 2:14-16a

Norma Gail

Norma Gail writes Fiction to Refresh Your Spirit, exploring the theme of women whose faith triumphs over trials. Her debut novel won the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. The sequel was published in 2020. A women’s Bible study leader for 25 years, Norma is a former Bible Study Fellowship discussion leader, and founding leader of the women’s Bible studies at her church. Her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 48 years. They have two adult children.

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