This post was last updated on January 10, 2026

Day 203, Year 1

Dealing with Grievances Towards God

“Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.” (Numbers 11:1 NKJV)

In the Book of Numbers, if God’s people knew how to deal with the complaints from their hearts, they would not likely be punished by God to death. Missing the food in Egypt and despising the manna that God granted them, they complained and defiled many. From this, we can see that it is a must for believers to know how to handle grievances from within.

To begin with, we need to separate our circumstances from the goodness of God. Some people hold the notion that if the God they believe in is really good, then they will not experience anything bad. As a result, they associate what happens to them with God’s goodness or lack thereof, blaming Him for the misfortunes they encounter. This kind of association is very wrong. Just as God put the Israelites to the test in the wilderness, He is also testing us during our time in this world.

Second, we should confront our needs behind any complaints and turn them into prayers to God. Behind people’s complaints, there might be unfulfilled needs, desires, or wishes. If our wishes or desires go unfulfilled or unmet, we can explore an alternative direction, and that is the time for us to exercise self-control. Instead of complaining to God, if the Israelites had thought about their true needs and humbly prayed to Him for what they needed, they might have avoided death punishment. Perhaps God, out of His compassion, would have satisfied their needs at that time.

Third, the shift from eating Egyptian food to eating manna daily was a drastic and forced change in Israelite eating habits. Under such circumstances, they blamed God. But if they had the ability to adapt to different changes, perhaps they could have learned more wisdom and understanding. People who often adapt to changes tend to be more flexible in their thinking and in dealing with people or matters, whereas living as slaves leads to a rigid mindset. Likewise, in order to grow spiritually and increase in wisdom and understanding, we need to take delight in the changes that come from God. For example, regularly changing some habits in life, such as taking a new route home, trying a new healthy diet, seeking to understand a belief that feels strange, etc., could all help to increase the flexibility of our minds. Conversely, a rigid mindset not only prevents us from learning new things, but anything that makes our minds rigid or stubborn can eventually lead us to sin against God.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you know how to deal with the grievances in your heart and turn your needs into humble prayers before God?

2) Are you a flexible person who is able to adapt to different changes? If not, how would you change with the Lord’s help?