"Liturgically, the complaint/lament function provides the community a means to engage the divine warrior in the way they have experienced him: as enemy. This is not a theodicy--either an explanation of why this disaster occurred or a justification of the activity of God--but rather lament prayer" (80).
Thomas further notes that the mode by which lament prayer questions God over matters, such as, suffering and violence is from "the realm of faith" (81). This is helpful because it gives a way for humans, who are admittedly finite, to express their fears, doubts, and questions in a faithful way to God when faced with profound suffering. This is no mere act of catharsis, but rather one of profound faith and worship.
BD