Facebook is filled with believers who mean well but who have picked up unbiblical ideas (perhaps even subconsciously) that don’t harmonize with the Bible. I recently encountered a meme that made a point I’m not sure the author intended to make. It said this: 

“Your mouth can literally block all that God has for you. The greatest snare in the wilderness is murmuring and complaining – over your present situation, before you reach the place God has for you. Remember, instead of four, it took forty years for the Israelites to reach the promised land because they were found grumbling. Sometimes, you are simply delaying God’s promises to work in your life, because of your mouth.”

The Bible does indeed warn against complaining. The apostle Paul says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God” (Philippians 2:14-15). The Israelites’ journey in the wilderness was extended due to their lack of trust in God (Numbers 14:27-35), and this serves as a cautionary tale for believers. Complaining reveals a lack of faith, and we are called to trust in God’s goodness, even in difficult situations. Challenges will arise, and we must exercise faith, trust, and personal discipline to avoid temptation.

The idea that we can “block” God’s promises by our actions is common to the charismatic and Word of Faith movements. This perspective includes the belief that our words have the power to shape reality. This elevates our speech to a level that is unsupported by the Bible and does two things. First, it oversimplifies God’s power and plans. God is not limited by human behavior, and his ultimate goals are not thwarted by human mistakes. A popular false teaching in the world of Christendom is that human beings have the power to limit God through what we say and do. There is a marked difference between experiencing the consequences of our actions (as the Israelites did) and being able to stop God’s plans from going forward (which is an unbiblical view of both humanity and God). 

Second, it feeds the expectation that God is always about to act and that showers of blessings are just around the corner. These “blessings” usually take a predictable form: material gain, physical well-being, and emotional happiness (contra John 16:33). This is part of the prosperity gospel, made (in)famous by false prophets like Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, but also promoted by the popular Joel Osteen. God’s grace and favor take center stage, but we have to understand that the Christian life is not always easy (Philippians 3:10), and hardships are to be expected (1 Peter 4:12-13). Jesus says we should expect to be treated no better than he was (John 13:15-20). Paul had a long list of harrowing experiences (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Still, he said that he had learned the valuable skill of being content regardless of his situation (Philippians 4:12). Joseph arrived at his final place of honor as vizier of Egypt only after narrowly evading his own murder, being sold into slavery, and going to prison for a crime he did not commit—all of which put him in position for his promotion. But stories of hardship and woe don’t typically push New York Times bestsellers, do they? 

Yes, the Christian life will have delays, but they are not necessarily the result of failure or complaining. There are times when God uses measures to refine us. While they can be unpleasant, we should try to see them as a means of improving our commitment and character (James 1:2-4). 

Complaining can hinder our spiritual growth, to be sure. It’s easy to mouth off instead of putting in the hard work to make things better. But God is not limited by our words. We tend to overestimate our power and place in the world, disparaging God’s sovereignty by doing so. Instead of glamorizing ourselves and fearing that we might block God’s blessings with our words, perhaps we should cultivate qualities like gratitude, faith, and love. 

While it is true that complaining can hinder our spiritual growth and lead us into negative patterns, God is sovereign, merciful, and capable of fulfilling His promises despite our weaknesses. Instead of fearing that we might block his blessings with our mouths, we should focus on trusting a God who will do what is good for the world regardless of anyone else’s input.