This past Sunday, I had the chance to preach at a church in Georgetown, KY. My friend, Andy Waldroup, has pastored this church for a long time, and I was privileged to visit and open the Bible with his people. As he introduced me, he said all the customary things one says when introducing a friend to preach. He talked of our long friendship, listed my credentials, and then prayed for me. In so doing, he gave the congregation a bit of a glimpse into who I am.

Yet, the people in the congregation still didn’t know me. So, I added to Andy’s words by confessing my sin to them. I am, more often than I like to admit, a complainer. I complain about road trips, or when my dogs need to go out early in the morning, and a host of other things.

That morning at Andy’s church, my text was Exodus 17. It’s a passage where we find Israel once again complaining. But not complaining in a way that you could liken to the righteous complaints of the Psalmist (e.g., Ps 142:1–2). Instead, they are complaining sinfully, it seems. In fact, the word used in the ESV to describe what Israel was doing is “grumble.” So, what’s the difference between complaining and grumbling? I think Jon Bloom provides a helpful answer, and I commend his article to you.

In the end, may God keep us from sinful grumbling even as we learn to pour out our hearts to God (“faithful complaining,” per Bloom).

Grumbling complaints directly or indirectly declare that God is not sufficiently good, faithful, loving, wise, powerful, or competent. Otherwise, he would treat us better or run the universe more effectively. Faithless complaining is sinful because it accuses God of doing wrong.

But faithful complaining does not impugn God with wrong. Rather, it is an honest, groaning expression of what it’s like to experience the trouble, anguish, and grief of living in this fallen, futile world (Romans 8:20–23). God does not mind this kind of complaining. (Bloom, “How to Complain without Grumbling,” DG)

You can read the whole article here.