"Do all things without murmurings and disputings" (Philippians 2:14). Moses told grumbling Israel, "your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD" (Exodus 16:8). Yet the Bible also shows a better way to bring a complaint: "I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble" (Psalm 142:2). And "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Timothy 6:6).
Complaining is easy, contagious and, if we are honest, a little enjoyable. Traffic, weather, coworkers, family: there is always something. Scripture warns plainly against the grumbling that poisoned Israel in the wilderness, but it never asks us to fake happiness. The psalms are full of honest complaint brought to God. The difference is direction: grumbling talks about God and others, while lament talks to God. These twelve King James verses will help you stop murmuring, pour out real troubles in prayer, and grow in contentment, a timely practice for Thanksgiving week. For verses on giving thanks, see gratitude and thanksgiving.
Do all things without murmurings
1. Philippians 2:14-15
"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"
Paul says all things, without murmurings and disputings, and he gives the reason: so that we shine as lights in the world. In a culture of constant complaint, a grateful person stands out like a star on a dark night.
2. 1 Corinthians 10:10
"Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer."
Paul reminds the church of Israel's grumbling in the wilderness (Numbers 14; 16:41-49) and the judgment that followed, and says these things were written for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11). God takes complaining more seriously than we do.
3. Exodus 16:8
"And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD."
When Israel complained about food, God answered with quail in the evening and bread in the morning, but Moses pointed out, your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD. Grumbling about our circumstances is often grumbling about God's care.
4. James 5:9
"Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door."
Grudge not one against another, brethren. Grudge here means to groan or complain about each other. James reminds us that the judge standeth before the door; the Lord hears how we talk about one another.
Bring your complaint to God
5. Job 7:11
"Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul."
Job said, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul, and at the end God said Job had spoken of Him the thing that is right (Job 42:7). God would rather hear an honest complaint from a suffering heart than polite silence.
6. Psalms 142:1-2
"I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble."
David, hiding in a cave (see the psalm's title), poured out his complaint before the LORD. That is the key difference: he did not spread his complaint around; he brought it to the One who could help.
7. Psalms 55:17
"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud. David's trouble was real, and so was his prayer: he took it to God again and again through the day, confident that he shall hear my voice.
8. Psalms 13:5-6
"But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."
Psalm 13 begins by asking how long God will seem to forget, and it ends here: I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Lament that is brought to God often ends in praise.
Contentment and praise instead
9. 1 Timothy 6:6-8
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
Godliness with contentment is great gain. We brought nothing into this world and will carry nothing out, so food and raiment are enough. Contentment cures the itch that complaining only scratches.
10. Proverbs 15:15
"All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast."
All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. The same day can feel miserable or like a feast depending on the heart. Gratitude sets the table.
11. Psalms 34:1
"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. When praise fills the mouth, there is less room for murmuring. David wrote this psalm after a frightening escape (see its title).
12. Psalms 50:23
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God."
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me. Praise is an offering, and sometimes a sacrifice, especially on days when circumstances tempt us to complain. Giving thanks on a hard day honors God in a special way.
A short prayer
Lord, forgive me for the murmuring that so easily fills my mouth. Teach me to bring my real troubles to You instead of spreading them around. Give me a merry heart, a content spirit and a mouth full of praise, so that I shine as a light this Thanksgiving and every day. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
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Frequently asked questions
Is complaining a sin?
Grumbling against God and other people is sin; Paul says, "Neither murmur ye" (1 Corinthians 10:10). But honest lament is not. Job and the psalmists brought their complaints straight to God, and He received them. The question is whether your complaint is turning you toward God or away from Him.
What is the difference between complaining and lament?
Complaining usually talks about a problem to anyone who will listen and assumes the worst about God. Lament talks to God about the problem, asks for help, and remembers His faithfulness, as Psalm 13 does when it ends, "I will sing unto the LORD" (Psalm 13:6).
How do I stop complaining?
Try a complaint fast for a week: each time you catch yourself grumbling, name one thing you are thankful for (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Take real problems to God in prayer and to the person involved, not to everyone else. Watch your words, too; see the tongue. Our free Thanksgiving printable gives seven days of gratitude prompts.
What did the Israelites complain about in the wilderness?
Water (Exodus 15:24; 17:3), food (Exodus 16:2-3; Numbers 11:4-6), the hardship of the journey (Numbers 21:5), and the leaders God gave them (Numbers 14:2; 16:41). God provided anyway, but their unbelieving grumbling kept a generation out of the promised land (Numbers 14:29-30).
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about gratitude · Bible verses about thanksgiving · Bible verses about the tongue · Bible verses about joy · Bible verses about patience · Bible verses about food
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