I ran into that "break me" stuff more in the charismatic side of things (maybe at Soul Survivor) than in the more reformed Sound Round Church. Not sure I like it: it sounds like some sort of spiritual boot camp where the sergeant major God has to break you down before he can build you up again. I recall praying for God to make me better, not to "break me" as such.

But if those things are acceptable answers to the dangerous prayers, why not God hiding his face for years on end?

How does God hiding his face help people to get to know him better?