When Gratitude Replaces Grumbling

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“The Lord said to Moses, 'I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, "At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God."’”
(Exodus 16:11–12)

Every year at Thanksgiving, families gather around a table filled with food. Yet instead of being thankful for what they have, conversations can sometimes center on what didn’t go right this year or wishing things were different with a job or family situation. Gratitude can vanish in the very moment it’s supposed to be strongest. That’s exactly what happened to the Israelites in Exodus 16:2. Only a month after God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, they were already grumbling against Moses and Aaron because the food wasn’t what they wanted. It’s startling how quickly they moved from celebrating their freedom to romanticizing their past slavery.

The truth is that grumbling is more than just a bad habit. It’s a distortion of perspective and ultimately, a spiritual issue. Grumbling causes us to focus on what we lack, forget God’s goodness in the past, and complain about the present. Gratitude, on the other hand, rewires our thinking and reorients our hearts to see His mercy, care, and faithfulness.

God provided manna for His people, not just to meet their needs but to test their trust and dependence on Him. The same can be true for us. Every blessing we receive from God carries with it the invitation to obey, to trust, and to give thanks to Him. Gratitude is the pathway to rest, joy, and deeper faith.

This Thanksgiving and all year long, let’s resist the pull of grumbling and choose instead to cultivate a heart of praise and thanks. When your focus shifts from what’s wrong to what’s right, you’ll begin to experience the freedom and peace God always intended for you.

Bold Steps Challenge:
This week, every time you feel tempted to complain, stop and list three things you’re thankful for in that very moment. Let gratitude reshape the way you think and rewire your heart toward praise.

Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve grumbled instead of trusted. Teach me to see Your hand of provision, even in the small things. Help me choose gratitude over complaining and remind me daily that You are enough. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Listen to the sermon: How To Hang Onto Your Joy

Sermon

Ministry Update from Mark

A Thanksgiving Prayer for Our Bold Steps Family
This Thanksgiving, I want to pause and say thank you. Thank you for listening to Bold Steps and for being a friend to this ministry. Your encouragement, comments, questions, and prayer requests remind us that God is using this program to make a difference. And thank you for your faithful financial partnership. Your generosity allows us to continue reaching more people with the hope of the gospel.

This season, I want to challenge you to be a light in your workplace, your neighborhood, your school, and your family gatherings. Live your faith aloud. Let the hope of the gospel shine through your words and actions so that others might see Jesus in you. Together, let’s keep stepping forward in bold faith, knowing that God is more than able.

For His glory,
Pastor Mark