Anger with God is something we all go through no matter how strong our faith is. This anger often shows up in the face of tragedy and difficult circumstances. Anger can leave us feeling very far from God. We begin to ask God questions like, "is God mad at me?" “why is this happening to me?” and “why have you abandoned me?” It may feel like a sin to be angry with God but the truth is it isn’t. While anger with God isn’t a sin, it’s what we do with that anger that is God’s true concern.
David is a great biblical figure that can help us understand our own anger with God. He was someone who felt angry and abandoned by God. He also didn’t know what the end result looked like. He cried out to God often when he was experiencing feelings of anger.
Psalm 22:1-3 says, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relieve. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” In these verses, we can see David’s pain, agony and longing for God. While he is clearly discouraged and filled with grief, he doesn’t lose his hope. Psalm 42:9-11 says, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God!” No matter how angry with God David was and what circumstances he faced, he continued to praise God.
If you’re angry with God, remember that God will carry you through any storm you face. The Bible tells us, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2). Every difficult situation you face, whether big or small, is preparing you to be stronger. God will use your trials to produce greater faith and strength if you allow Him to. Your pain has purpose, even when you don’t understand why in this moment.
Also, remember how deep God’s love runs. No action you make and no sin that you commit can make Him love you any less. The Bible tells us, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” When life gets hard, it’s important that you remember that God loves you – no matter how many mistakes you make or how many times you are angry with Him. God doesn’t love us for superficial, earthly reasons. God loves you for you.
When our hearts are filled with anger, it can get the devil an opportunity to reside there. It can also destroy us if we allow it to. It is wrong to be angry with God as it is a sign of our unwillingness to trust God. However, God understands when we are. He is aware of the pain that we’ll encounter in this world and the suffering we will go through.
When we’re angry with God, we should also focus on God’s perfect plan for our lives. The Bible tells us, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). God has a perfect plan for you. Sometimes it seems like His plans are always different from our plans, but His plans are always perfect. He never does it all at once, just step by step because He wants to teach us to walk by faith, not by sight. It’s important that we are patient and trust in His timing.
No matter how angry we are with God, He will never abandon us. God is always present in your life, even in your lonely and broken hours. It’s important that you remain faithful and not lose hope. The Bible tells us, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31). You may feel like you’re alone, but God is right there. Scripture promises that the Lord will fight for us. We only need to be still. Trust that God is a constant presence in your life.
God has the power to heal your troubled heart, even when anger fills it. The Bible tells us that Jesus was sent to heal the broken-hearted (Luke 4:18), that He will restore our health and heal our wounds (Jeremiah 30:17). Jesus not only carries all of your pain, but also has the power to heal you. Even in times of difficulty and uncertainty, God wants us to know that He is present and able to make us whole again. The beautiful part is that when God heals and restores, our lives are transformed. Trust in His power.
Our feelings and our circumstances can cause us to drift away from God. When this happens, we may not trust that His plan is right for us. But God knows and understands the hopes and fears we keep in our hearts. In fact, He’s the best listener. Even when we don’t shout or cry out loud, He hears even our silent prayers. It’s important that we trust Him, especially during our darkest hours.
If you’re angry with God, pray! Your prayer doesn’t have to be elaborate. Simply pray for courage, strength and peace to make it through the day. The more you trust in God, the easier it becomes to overcome your situation.
