Many people go through immense suffering and pain. They are emotionally exhausted, mentally fatigued, and spiritually empty. Yet, when they listen to good news, they are unable to receive it with hope. The children of Israel were under tyranny for four hundred years in Egypt. When Moses announced that God had sent him to deliver, they were happy. However, Pharaoh became angry and demanded the same quantity of bricks from Hebrew slaves without providing straw. When Moses spoke to them the second time, they did not listen because of the anguish of spirit and cruel bondage. (Exodus 6:9)
Bitter experience
Probably, they said they believed God, but could not trust Moses and Aaron. They could have thought their burden increased because of the false deliverers as they did not deliver, but as slaves, they had to deliver bricks, even without raw materials.
Overwhelmed by sorrow
The slaves who were enduring oppression, groaning, and praying to God, had a rude shock. (Exodus 2:23-25) The quota of bricks they produced should not decrease, without a supply of raw material. The taskmasters punished them ruthlessly as the task was not possible. Now, they were drowned in sorrow.
Short-sightedness
The Children of Israel could not foresee the future. The future glorious revelation is great and not worthy to be compared with the present-day troubles or sufferings or pain. (Romans 8:18) Like Esau who was giving away his birthright for one time meal. (Genesis 25:29-34) In other words, they lacked the eternal perspective.
False Gods
Prophet Ezekiel gives us more insight. They were not only political slaves of Pharaoh, but they were also spiritual slaves to Satan. The Children of Israel trusted the gods of their oppressors, worshiping the gods of the Egyptians. (Ezekiel 20:5-9) Probably, they thought Egyptians were powerful and rich because of their worship of their gods.
Consider
When things are not happening right, or unexpected things happen or losses happen as it happened to Job, godly people are expected to consider, reflect, ponder, examine, and evaluate. (Haggai 1:7)
Does anguish quench my faith or accelerate my yearning for God?