More psalms were devoted to complaining 

than any other single category.

Maybe this is good news for us.

You crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals.

Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? 

Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression?

How long, O Lord, how long?

Old Testament scholar Ellen Davis wrote that

in the ancient world, complaint prayers are 

without parallel in other religions. 

Others made requests, offered worship, cursed their enemies.

Only Israel prayed their complaints.

Only Israel believed that God cares that we are in pain,

and can be expected to do something about it. 

When we are passionately honest with God,

when we are not indulging in self-pity, 

when we hope that God can be trusted,

our hearts make resting in his presence possible again. 

GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK

For more information, read about Job's complaints

and especially the Lord's answer.