Have you ever been mad at God?
Let that question sink in for a moment. Have you ever been mad at God?
You prayed to him, but He didn’t answer your prayer as you expected. You asked for healing, but healing hasn’t come yet. You asked for healing, but death came instead. You did something good for God, but that “good” resulted in your suffering.
I have been mad at God for several reasons.
Reason #1: I prayed a prayer that God didn’t answer as I expected. I am 37 years older than my daughter. I am 40 years older than my son. That’s not how I thought my life would go. When I look back now, I wouldn’t have it any other way, but back then, I was totally confused.
Reason #2: Some devastating tragedy or accident. I cannot comprehend that an impoverished country like Haiti is suffering again because of another earthquake. I imagine Haitians thinking, “we have enough on our plates right now.” Political upheaval. Unprecedented poverty. Despite this poorly labeled “act of God,” Haitians need our help. You can send financial aid right now by clicking here.
Reason #3: Death. So many people I love have died. One was 4, another 8. Some were in their teens. One woman was 46. My brother was 60. My Dad was 78. I hate death. I’m so thankful God sent Jesus Christ to conquer death once and for all.
Are your reasons anything close to mine? If you’re mad at God. Consider these four statements:
#1: It’s okay to be mad, but don’t become bitter. Go ahead and lament. To lament means “to passionately express your grief or sorrow.” Job did. So did Jeremiah. We have an entire Bible book called “Lamentations.” Thank you, Jeremiah! Elijah did. So did Jesus. Jesus said on the cross. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” A bitter person loses sight of the bigger prize. Eternity. Separation ended. Don’t let Satan turn your anger into bitterness, tempting you to think your life would be better without God. It would not!
#2: God rarely asks for permission to use your suffering. He didn’t with Job or Jesus.
#3: God wants us to trust him more than he wants us to understand him. We demand the question “why” to be answered. Will you trust God long enough to provide the answer someday?
#4: God often uses suffering to get people to see His son. Persecution and suffering are what grew the church in Acts. Rarely does much spiritual maturity happen when life is comfortable.
I have always found peace in the 91st Psalm.
Psalm 91:1-2
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
You can’t be mad at someone who doesn’t exist. If you are mad at God, it’s obvious you believe in him, but take belief one step further. Belief equals trust. So if you are mad at God, tell him. He already knows, but tell him anyway. And then one day, trust him to reveal his reason “why.”