1 Samuel 2:29

> Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

That word "kick" hits different when you're honest about your own heart, doesn't it?

God wasn't just calling out bad behavior. He was exposing an attitude, a restless, ungrateful dissatisfaction with what He had already given. And if we're not careful, we can find ourselves kicking at the very blessings God has placed in our lives.

The Story Behind the Verse

This verse lands right in the middle of the story of Eli and his sons, Hophni and Phinehas. God reminds Eli in 1 Samuel 2:28 that He had been good to him and his family. He chose Eli from among all the tribes of Israel. He made him a priest. He gave him the offerings. God had been generous.

But Eli's sons weren't satisfied. They took more than what God had given them. They grabbed the best parts of the offerings without respect or permission. And Eli? He didn't do much to stop them. He honored his sons above God.

Before the story is over, all three of them are dead.

That's the spiritual danger of dissatisfaction. It doesn't just make you grumpy, it destroys you.

The Dissatisfaction Trap

Here's the uncomfortable question: Am I satisfied with what God has done for me?

Do I see that He brought me from a place without blessings and has been incredibly good to me? Or do I kick and gripe and complain about what He's given me? Do I worry more about what my family thinks or what He thinks?

I'll be honest with you, I've been there. I often complain. I want a bigger church. I want more salary. I want to be used more. I often appear very unsatisfied with what God is doing in my life, and truthfully, there have been seasons when I absolutely was.

Do you ever face this problem?

Dissatisfaction typically arises from unmet expectations rather than real deprivation. When you feel God isn't giving you what you deserve, that emotion gets tangled up with lies. You start believing that God is holding out on you. That He's not being fair. That you deserve better.

And here's the kicker: dissatisfaction can become a black hole in the soul that destroys every opportunity for contentment. If you start despising what God has given you, you open the door to destructive spiritual consequences.

What Kicking at God's Blessings Looks Like

When I say "kicking," I don't just mean complaining out loud. I mean the subtle, silent rejection of God's provision.

It's the pastor who looks at his small congregation and feels embarrassed instead of grateful.

It's the missionary who compares his ministry to others and feels like a failure.

It's the believer who focuses on what they don't have instead of the abundance already in their hands.

Eli's sons kicked at God's provision by taking more. We kick at God's provision by believing less is proof that God doesn't care.

Both are rooted in the same lie: God isn't enough, and what He gives isn't enough either.

The deeper issue often involves your view of God's control and trustworthiness. When circumstances don't align with your plans, dissatisfaction results from your inability or unwillingness to trust God, even when you don't understand what He's doing.

My Own Wrestling Match

Let me get real with you for a minute.

I do not want to kick at His blessings. I don't want to have a bad attitude about what He's given me. I do not deserve to live even one more day, yet He is blessing me, giving me life, allowing me to serve Him.

God's people have taken very good care of me over all these years. They have done far more for me than I deserve.

But I still catch myself wanting more. Wanting a different platform. Wanting better outcomes. Wanting people to see my work and respond differently.

And every time I feel that restlessness rise up, I have to ask myself: Am I kicking against what God is doing in my life?

Do I have an attitude? Do I feel like He isn't being fair with me? Do I feel like He's a hard taskmaster?

If I'm honest, the answer is sometimes yes.

The Shift: From Complaint to Gratitude

Here's what I've learned: Dissatisfaction isn't the same as spiritual hunger.

Spiritual hunger drives you toward God. Dissatisfaction drives you away from Him.

You can redirect that restlessness. You can turn it into prayer, humility, and service. But you have to stop blaming God and start seeking Him.

Seek God rather than satisfaction in God. The key shift is moving from trying to feel satisfied to simply seeking God Himself.

I have a pastor friend who is possibly on his death bed right now. Suddenly, what seems important shifts. What is really important? God has blessed him and used him. God has saved us from deserved hell and destruction. God has given us so many blessings. We have lived the abundant life.

When you stand at the edge of eternity, you don't count your complaints. You count your blessings.

And honestly, when I stop kicking long enough to look around, I see I've been standing in the middle of a feast the whole time.

If you're wrestling with dissatisfaction, let me ask you this: What if God is calling you to be part of the solution to the gap you see? Many people feel dissatisfied without being willing to serve or labor for change.

Maybe your dissatisfaction isn't a signal that God has failed you. Maybe it's an invitation to step into a deeper partnership with Him. To stop demanding and start serving. To stop kicking and start kneeling.

A Choice to Make Today

I refuse to kick against His working in my life today. I will be satisfied and say so.

That doesn't mean I ignore areas where growth is needed. It doesn't mean I stop dreaming or asking God for more influence or fruit. But it does mean I stop treating God like He owes me something.

You are not behind. You are not being graded. You are being held.

If you've been dissatisfied: if you've been kicking at what God has given you: can I invite you to stop? Just for today. Just for this moment.

Take a few minutes and thank God. List out loud what He's done. Name the blessings. Acknowledge the provision. Confess the complaining.

And then rest in this truth: God is not disappointed in you. He is not measuring your worth by your consistency. He's holding you with steady hands, even when you don't feel steady yourself.

I've written more about learning to rest in God's unconditional love over at the hub. If you're struggling to believe God is truly for you, that article might help.

God bless you. And may we both learn to stop kicking and start kneeling.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I'm genuinely struggling and not just complaining?

There's a difference between honest lament and entitled dissatisfaction. If you're in real pain or hardship, bring it to God. He can handle your questions. But if you're comparing your blessings to someone else's and feeling cheated, that's the kicking Eli did: and it leads to destruction, not healing.

How do I know if my dissatisfaction is from God or from selfishness?

Ask yourself: Does this discontent drive me toward God or away from Him? Does it make me want to pray more or complain more? Godly discontent leads to prayer, humility, and service. Selfish dissatisfaction leads to blame, bitterness, and entitlement.

Can I ask God for more without being ungrateful?



Absolutely. The issue isn't asking: it's demanding. It's not wrong to desire growth, influence, or blessing. It's wrong to believe you deserve it and to kick at God when He doesn't deliver on your timeline. Ask with open hands, not clenched fists.