When we think about prayer, complaining to God probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. Yet Psalm 79 offers us a powerful model of bringing our deepest concerns and frustrations directly to God - not as a sign of weak faith, but as an expression of trust in His care and power to act.
What Does It Mean to Complain to God?
Psalm 79 begins with a stark report of devastation: "O God, the nations have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in ruins." The psalmist doesn't sugarcoat the situation or try to find silver linings. Instead, they present the raw reality of their circumstances to God.
This isn't complaining in the sense of whining or grumbling. Rather, it's bringing our problems to God with the understanding that what affects us also affects Him. When we list our struggles for God, we're acknowledging that these should be His problems too, because we belong to Him.
Why We Struggle with Honest Prayer
Many of us were raised with the idea that "the complaints department is closed." We've learned to keep our struggles to ourselves, to always answer "fine" when asked how we're doing. But Scripture shows us a different way - God's complaints department is always open.
We often undervalue both our authority to shape history through prayer and the real disappointments and hardships that we and others face. This leads us to pray safe, sanitized prayers that don't address the real issues weighing on our hearts.
How Should We Pray Like Psalm 79?
List Your Problems as God's Problems
The psalmist presents their situation by showing how it affects God's reputation and purposes. When we pray this way, we're not just asking for personal relief - we're asking God to act for His own sake and glory.
This perspective transforms our prayers from self-centered requests to God-centered appeals. We begin to see our struggles in light of God's larger story and purposes in the world.
Pray in Solidarity with Other Believers
Psalm 79 reminds us that we're part of a global family of faith. When believers in other parts of the world face persecution, their suffering should move us to prayer and action. We share the same Lord, the same salvation, and the same Holy Spirit.
This solidarity extends beyond international concerns to our local community of faith. When we see each other as truly family, we naturally care about justice, healing, and wholeness for one another.
Confess Sin Without Losing Your Place in God's Story
One of the most remarkable aspects of Psalm 79 is how it handles sin. The psalmist acknowledges their failures: "Do not remember against us our former iniquities. Let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low."
But notice what doesn't happen - the psalmist doesn't conclude that their sin disqualifies them from God's care or removes them from His purposes. Instead, they ask God to deal with their sin precisely so His name won't be dishonored.
This is crucial for us to understand. Our sin is not the thing that pulls us out of God's story. In fact, the only way into God's story is through His dealing with our sin through Christ.
What Happens When We Pray This Way?
We Expect Real Change
When we pray like Psalm 79, we're not just venting or going through religious motions. We're expecting that our prayers will actually change things. We believe that how God's people are treated affects how God rules the world.
This kind of prayer is based on the understanding that Jesus has given ordinary disciples real authority to carry on His mission of transformation. We're not powerless observers of world events - we're participants with the authority to shape history through prayer and obedience.
We Hold Gospel Interests Together
Psalm 79 shows us that we don't have to choose between caring about personal salvation and social justice, between individual repentance and systemic change. The psalm holds together concern for people hearing the Gospel, pursuit of justice and righteousness, and God's glory and reputation.
When we pray this way, we can be passionate about evangelism and equally passionate about fighting injustice, because both matter to God and both are part of His kingdom purposes.
Why Don't We Pray Like This More Often?
There are several reasons we might avoid this kind of honest, complaint-filled prayer. We may undervalue the authority Jesus has given us to shape history through prayer. We might minimize the real disappointments and hardships we and others face because we don't want to be seen as complainers.
Perhaps most importantly, we don't practice this kind of prayer when things are relatively calm, so it feels awkward and unfamiliar when we're desperate and really need it.
The Power of Praying Together
Psalm 79 is written for the community of faith to pray together. There's something powerful about bringing our complaints to God not just individually, but corporately. When we pray together like this, we remind each other that God cares, that He can act, and that we're not alone in our struggles.
This kind of communal prayer also helps us see beyond our own immediate concerns to the broader work God is doing in the world. It connects us to believers around the globe and throughout history who have brought their complaints to the same faithful God.
Life Application
This week, practice bringing your real concerns to God without sanitizing them or minimizing their importance. Whether it's personal struggles, concerns for loved ones, or injustices you see in the world, present them to God as problems He should care about because you belong to Him.
Consider how you might pray in solidarity with believers who are suffering, whether across the globe or in your own community. Ask God to show you how your prayers and actions can be part of His work of justice and restoration in the world.
Remember that your sin doesn't disqualify you from bringing complaints to God or expecting Him to act. Instead, confess your failures while maintaining confidence in your place in God's story through Christ.
Ask yourself: What real problems in my life or in the world have I been hesitant to bring to God? How might God want to use my prayers and actions to bring about change? Am I praying with the expectation that God actually responds and acts, or am I just going through the motions?