There is not a whole lot of positive assessment of complaining in Scripture (or in day-to-day living either). Israel’s complaining during the days of Moses takes up more than 40% of the word’s usage in all of Scripture. The Pharisees repeatedly complained against Jesus. God instructs Christians to “do all things without complaining” (Phil. 2:14).
With the weight of Scripture against complaining, it makes David’s inspired petition to the Lord even more intriguing. David appealed to his God, “I cry out to the Lord with my voice; with my voice to the Lord I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble” (Psa. 142:1-2; read the whole psalm). David, inspired to write it, poured out his complaint before God. Is that what God wants? Consider the following passages:
“Casting all your anxiety on Him” (1 Pet. 5:7). “In everything by prayer and supplication…let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6). If you’re gonna complain, take it to God!