How to Complain

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me,

so far from my cries of anguish?

My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. 

Psalm 22:1–2

This psalm begins with a complaint... an anguished, broken-hearted complaint. In the day of trouble he looks to god for help, but can’t find Him. He cries out to God day and by night, but God doesn’t answer. The psalmist feels forsaken by God.

Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt like God wasn’t answering your prayers or that He had turned His back on you when you needed Him most? When you feel that way, what should you do? These two verses, along with the rest of Psalm 22, begin to give us a guide to Christian complaint. 

Two things jump out to us immediately. First, David complains to God not about God. That’s incredibly important! There is a tremendous difference between grumbling against God and pouring your complaint out to God. You know what we call complaining to God? Prayer!

You don’t like for people to talk bad about you behind your back, so don’t do it to God. Show Him the consideration and respect of bringing it straight to Him. Pour your complaint out to God, not against Him.

Second, we can’t help but notice that the psalmist doesn’t pull any punches. He doesn’t sugar-coating anything. He’s gut-wrenchingly honest with God. He openly tells God exactly how he feels.

‌It’s okay to be honest with God. It isn’t okay to be disrespectful. It isn’t okay to blaspheme or curse at Him or yell at Him or even lecture Him. But, you can be honest with God. He already knows what you are feeling. You don’t have to hide your pain or your disappointment from Him. It’s okay to acknowledge the facts of your situation and it’s okay to be honest about how you are feeling. 

If King David could do it in Psalm 22, and if Jesus could do it by quoting these verses from the cross, then you can to. It's okay to pour out your complaint to the Lord, just do it respectfully.