Lament, Finding a Path for Your Griefنموونە

Part 2: Complaint

“O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?” (Psalm 74:1)

Complaining to God seems inappropriate at first. He is so much greater and so much more holy than we humans are. How could we reproach Him? Isn’t that too bold and audacious?

It is indeed good to keep our place before God in mind. Yet a complaint is, at the deepest level, an expression of faith. For only when we believe that God is good and mighty does it make sense to present our burning questions to Him. We may tell Him about our painful or unjust situation that is not in line with God's Kingdom and with His character. We may lay our doubts and our confused emotions before Him. He already knows deeply what is going on in us because He can see straight into our hearts, but it is good to lay our hearts open before the Lord.

Several Psalms give examples of this:

- “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1)

- “I say to God, my rock: ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?’” (Psalm 42:9)

- “O Lord, why do you cast my soul away? Why do you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 88:14)

Which complaint would you like to verbalize before God? Could you use words from the Psalms?