Worthy Brief - February 20, 2026

 Worthy Brief - February 20, 2026

Beware the poison of complaining! 

1 Corinthians 10:10  nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 

Paul does not treat complaining as a minor flaw. He connects it directly to destruction. In the wilderness, murmuring was not harmless venting -- it was rebellion in disguise. It sounded like frustration, but it carried accusation. It looked like weakness, but it revealed unbelief.

Complaining is not merely about circumstances; it is about trust.

When Israel murmured, they were not just criticizing Moses or lamenting their discomfort. Beneath their words was a deeper charge: “God has not been good to us.” Every complaint implied that deliverance was insufficient, provision was inadequate, and promise was doubtful. Murmuring was the language of a heart that had forgotten mercy.

And Paul says plainly -- murmuring invited the destroyer.

That is sobering -- because complaining slowly eats away at faith. It distorts how we see, reshapes the atmosphere around us, and spreads further than we realize. Gratitude keeps our eyes fixed on the promise; complaining drags our hearts back toward Egypt. What feels like a private frustration can quietly become a cancer in the camp.

Complaining never stays isolated. In the wilderness, it spread quickly -- one voice ignited another, and a single grievance grew into collective unrest. Murmuring weakened resolve, strained trust, and fractured unity. The destroyer did not have to manufacture division; the unchecked words of the people opened the door for him.

This is why murmuring is so dangerous in a revival generation. When God is moving, the enemy cannot easily attack from outside -- so he looks for dissatisfaction inside. If gratitude fades, entitlement grows. If thanksgiving diminishes, criticism multiplies. And where complaint becomes culture, glory begins to lift.

Gratitude protects destiny. A thankful heart keeps vision clear -- it recalls what God has already done, and anchors trust in what He will yet do. Thanksgiving strengthens faith and preserves unity. Complaining does the opposite; it slowly erodes what God is building. It turns minor discomforts into major offenses, enlarges temporary trials, and shrinks eternal promises.

This is the hour to silence complaint and cultivate gratitude. Revival will not flourish in a murmuring camp. Guard your tongue. Guard your tone. Guard the atmosphere of your heart. Speak life. Remember mercy. Thank God intentionally. Gratitude will protect what God is building among us. If we choose thanksgiving over murmuring, the destroyer will find no foothold -- and revival will advance unhindered into promise.

Shabbat Shalom! May you have a blessed weekend as you serve and worship Him. We'll see you first thing on Monday morning! 

George & Baht Rivka (Bradenton, Florida)