Key scripture – “Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp” (Numbers 11:1, NASB).

God knows every one of our negative thoughts and words. But there is one particular brand of complaining that grates most on His ears.

In Numbers 11, it says for “the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD.” Did you catch that? The worst kind of complaining is complaining about adversity. It sounds like this: “Why me? Why must I endure this trouble when life goes smoothly for everyone else? I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. When will all this end?”

How quickly we forget that we should expect adversity in this life—it’s as certain as death and taxes. Jesus reminded us, “In the world you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33, ESV), and the writer of Hebrews warned, “Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves.” (Hebrews 12:5–6).

So why do we act surprised and indignant when troubles come? God has entrusted to every person a measure of adversity—just the right amount to accomplish God’s eternal purposes in our lives. Your measure of adversity is like no one else’s, just like God’s eternal purpose for your life is like no one else’s. For some, the adversity is a health crisis. For others, it’s a struggling career with continuous job changes. Others shoulder an unbearable weight of grief and responsibility following a long-ago family tragedy. Still others made a poor decision early in life and now they struggle with hard consequences. Some desperately long to be parents, yet God has not allowed them to have children. Still others long to be married, while God has not provided the right mate. The shades and variations of examples are endless.

Whatever your adversity, it’s your cross to carry—and by His grace, God will help you shoulder that load. Every one of us has a unique measure of adversity, and God Himself measured it out. For that reason, every person has something in his or her life that God doesn’t want to hear complaints about. Instead of rejoicing in all the good things God has done in our lives, we complain about That One Thing, whatever it is, and we never stop complaining about it.

But it’s so hard! we might argue. True, it is hard to live with adversity, and it’s hard not to complain about it. But when we complain about our trials, we forfeit the grace that could be ours. All the grace and strength you need in order to experience joy and victory in your adversity are available to you—but by choosing to complain, by clinging to the idol of a perfect life, you flush away the grace of God. As Jonah wrote, “Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.” (2:8, NLT), or in the wording of the NKJV, “Forsake their own Mercy.”

Is idealism the false god in your life? What about comfort? Do you feel entitled to a perfect, adversity-free existence? Remind yourself that the very adversity you so often complain about is That One Thing God wants to use to keep your heart close to His. In His grace, He allows adversity to draw us closer to Him. Is it hard? Yes! This is not to belittle or make light of very real, very hard adversity. However, worse than adversity is a complaining response to it. God simply will not tolerate repeated complaints about the measured adversity in our lives.

Are you ready to stop complaining and start praising?

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, to each of us You have given a measure of adversity, and I will admit right now that I don’t like mine. Thanks for letting me be honest with You. But rather than complain about this adversity, by Your grace help me to accept it. I ask You to use this hardship for my good. Through it, please draw me closer to You. I ask you to give me the strength and grace to endure well just like Paul did when he had to live with a thorn in his flesh. I want to be able to boast gladly about my weaknesses. I want to delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties, because when I am weak, then I am strong because of the power of Jesus that lives in me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Father, pour Your grace on me and refine my character so I’m more like Your Son. Holy Spirit, convict me and shut my mouth when I start to complain; I don’t want to forfeit the grace and mercy that could be mine. The greatest example regarding how to deal with adversity is Jesus, He knew Your will was for Him to suffer and die on the cross for our sins, so instead of whining and complaining, He prayed, “Father, if you are willing take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42). Father, yet not my will, but Yours be done in every area of my life, especially in my adversity, so that You can be glorified. In Jesus’ Precious Name, I pray, Amen.

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