What Does God Say About Complaining and Grumbling?

In today’s world of online accessibility and social media, it’s easy to grumble and complain. Complaining about anything and everything gives us a sense of freedom to express ourselves. We often complain without thinking, forgetting God hates complaining--it’s a reflection of disobedience and lack of faith in God. In this article, I’ll explore what the bible says about complaining, practical steps to overcome complaining, and how to shine as light in a world full of complaining.

What Is Complaining and Grumbling?

We complain and grumble about the economy, the weather, church leadership, politics, and even traffic over the holidays. Complaining and murmuring is a way of life for some of us.

However, it’s essential to note that it’s a serious sin that aligns us to work with the powers of darkness and it was so costly for the Israelites that we should be careful of what we say.

The word (gongyzo) grumble means to complain or murmur under your breath against something or someone. Grumbling often causes us to agree with something that doesn’t align with God’s will. It’s a sign of lack of faith, and so we agree with our hopelessness.

And because our tongues have the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21), our murmurs and complaints often become negative prophecies over our circumstances.

In Numbers 12:1-10, Aaron and Miriam complained and murmured against Moses. The Bible in Exodus 15:20 shows that Miriam was a prophetess. So, she was prophesying against an anointed leader and God heard her grumbles. God always hears what you say. God’s anger burned against Aaron and Miriam, and Miriam’s skin turned leprous.

Our mouths often speak what is in our hearts, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Matthew 12:34). So , if you’re full of the Holy Ghost and the word of God, then your mouth will release words that reveal the truth. Let God sanctify our hearts today, ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse and fill you. Ask the Holy Spirit to guard your mouth so that every word you say is full of life. Fill your heart and your mind with the word of God so that when you’re agitated and frustrated, His Word spills from your mouth rather than complaining.

Why Complaining is a Detrimental Habit: Biblical Perspective

Complaining is sinfully grumbling and murmuring showing discontentment with life. Definitely complaining isn’t a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Thus, a complaining spirit kills the joy, peace, and patience that comes from the Holy Spirit.

The Bible provides many examples of those who complained to God. For example, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, Adam complained “the woman you put here with me… gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:12) By complaining Adam blamed Eve and indirectly God for his sin.

While in the wilderness, the Israelites complained many times to Moses:

They said to Moses, “ Was it because there are no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, “Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’?” It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert! Exodus 14:11-12”

So the people grumbled again to Moses, saying, “ What are we to drink? (Exodus 15:24)”

Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning because he has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord. Exodus 16:7-8”

In Exodus 14, 15, and 16, God had just delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Moses and Aaron were leading them through the wilderness according to God’s will, but the people were just complaining and grumbling.

Life in Egypt was deplorable. They were slaves and worked with no pay. They longed and prayed for freedom, deliverance, and redemption. And God answered their prayers.

But soon they forgot how bad life in Egypt was. On their way to the Promised Land they complained at the sign of every discomfort.

They felt the journey to the Promised Land was hard and full of inconveniences. So they wished Moses would have left them to stay in Egypt, forgetting about God’s miraculous deliverance and faithful provision. They complained because their hearts were full of doubts, unbelief, and they lacked faith.

What do you learn from the Israelites

We learn:

• Grumbling is a natural response to difficulty.

• Grumbling is a sign of a bigger problem. We complain when we forget how far God has brought us, what he has done for us, and when we forget about his faithfulness and doubt his plan for our lives.

• When you complain, you’re actually complaining against God.

• God is merciful and graceful and forgives us for grumbling and murmuring.

What Happens When We Complain Against God?

God explicitly warns us against complaining. In 1 Corinthians 10:10, Apostle Paul writes, “And do not grumble as some of them did--and were killed by the destroying angel.”

Similarly, in Numbers 14:26-30 God says, “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, “As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say: In this wilderness your bodies will fall--every one of you twenty years or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.””

Numbers 14 shows how the entire generation of Israelites died in the wilderness because of murmuring and complaining against God. Grumbling isn't a minor sin; it’s a spiritual breach that brings destruction in one’s life.

When we complain and grumble we open the door for the destroying angel to come in and dismantle order and peace. That’s why those who constantly murmur and complain often find their lives full of stagnation and turmoil.

Despite witnessing firsthand God’s divine provision--water from a rock, manna from heaven, and deliverance from Egypt--the Israelites still complained. Their complaints and dissatisfaction reveal hearts disconnected from gratitude and trust in God. As a result, they wandered through the desert for 40 years, missing the Promised Land.

On the contrary, a heart full of gratitude and thanksgiving ushers God’s blessings in our lives. Psalm 50:23 says, “Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me, and to the blameless I will show my salvation.” When you cultivate a heart full of gratitude and thanksgiving, you align yourself with God’s will and plan, honoring Him and unlocking divine breakthrough, order, and salvation in your life. Gratitude is a spiritual discipline that shifts our outlook and invites God’s presence into our lives.

How to Stop Complaining Against God

Complaining is a form of disobedience, it’s also a poor example to those around us. As Christians and children of God, we’re meant to shine as lights, following the example of Jesus Christ (John 8:12). But often we fail to follow Christ’s example. As I think back about the many times I have complained, I often wonder who those around me see? Did they see Jesus Christ living in me or just another bitter person?

The question here is how can you find the strength to do everything without grumbling?

The answer.

Always remember that God Knows what He is doing. The story of Joseph is a perfect example--his brothers threw him in a pit, they sold him into slavery, he was unjustly accused of fooling around with Potiphar’s wife, he was thrown into prison, the King’s cupbearer forgot he had helped him--and yet the Bible doesn’t record a single complaint.

Joseph could have become bitter against his brothers, or even smashed the walls in prison and complained to other prisoners about how life was unfair. But he didn’t.

The secret to living a complaint-free life is in Genesis 45:5-8. Here, Joseph is now the Governor of Egypt, he’s addressing his starving brothers saying, “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” Three times in four verses Joseph says--“God sent me here.” Talk about conviction that comes as a result of an unshakable faith in God.

Joseph knew the truth that God is in control, and He knows what He is doing.

Stopping complaining isn’t easy. But I have learnt to turn my complaints into prayers. When you catch yourself complaining or grumbling instead of dwelling into the dark path of complaining turn to prayers instead. When I stop complaining and pray, I often feel at peace and I feel less weighed down by the negative things in life.

Philippians 4:6-7, says, “Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.”

How to Pray When You Want to Complain

Instead of complaining, pray to God about the situation. Ask God to give you wisdom and clarity. Ask for patience and peace, and anything you need to go through what you’re feeling.

Pray for the person. Who are you grumbling about? Most likely they need a prayer. Maybe they need wisdom, hope, or more positivity in their life. Perhaps they need Jesus Christ to shine light through their life. If you know the person personally, ask God how you can help them in this circumstance.

Pray for your heart and mind. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to fight thoughts that move toward complaints. Pray that the Holy Spirit will help you catch it before it starts and actually pray instead of complaining.

This is always the goal--to pray instead of complaining. Although for me--sometimes it’s still complaints and then prayers. I’m still a work in progress and I pray that you’re too--if you struggle with complaining.

We all know that our lives and the world--could use a lot more positivity. Less complaining and more praying can make that happen!