How to Complain God’s Way

We can see in lament psalms these elements:

1. Complaint and Petition.

This is the statement of the perceived problem. The complaint typically boils down to God’s inattentiveness and inaction, knowing that God is sovereign and that the circumstance exists under His direction. The complaint is directed at Him, because He is the only one who can solve it. The psalmist petitions God to be attentive and act.

2. Confidence and Praise.

He identifies his confidence in God’s character and His ability to attend to the matter and act. What the psalmist knows about God — His sovereignty, wisdom and goodness — gives the psalmist his confidence. He voices his complaint to God and sings His praises without even a change in his circumstance.

See Soul Care Resources for how these elements appear in Psalm 13 and 22.

Practical Instruction on Godly Complaining.

Teach your counselee the difference between complaining man’s way and God’s way.

Complaining Man’s Way 

Complaining God’s Way
»  Expecting from God what we think He should give or do for us. »  Expecting from God only what He promises to do.
»  Finding the solution in man. »  Finding the solution in God alone.
»  Rebelling against and stubbornly refusing to believe God. »  Faithfully accepting and submitting to God.
»  Doubting God and casting criticism on His justice, goodness and power. »  Trusting God’s justice, goodness and power.
»  Cultivates more complaining. »  Cultivates praise and thanksgiving.
»  May result in walking away from God. »  Results in sustained devotion to God.
»  Reveals a heart that is only devoted to God to the extent that He does for us what we want. »  Reveals a heart that is devoted to God … period.
  • Using a lament psalm, teach your counselee to identify the psalmist’s complaint and petition.
  • Teach your counselee to identify the psalmist’s confidence and praise.

See Soul Care Resources for a lament Bible study worksheet.

  • Have your counselees identify their own complaint and petition and write it out, using the lament psalms as their guide.
  • Have your counselees identify their confidence and praise and write it out.

See Soul Care Resources for a sample personal complaint worksheet and a blank personal complaint worksheet.

“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears” (Psalm 18.6″ data-version=”esv”>Psalm 18:6, ESV).

Join the Conversation.

For yourself and your counselees, how do you answer the question: “How do I voice my complaint in a way that is both honest and honoring to the Lord?”  

NOTE: This article originally appeared at the Biblical Counseling Coalition here and is used by permission of the Biblical Counseling Coalition.