Wow! How many times have you asked God “WHY?!” Why me…why the good people… why not the bad people… why is a powerful word when it is packed full of emotions. When life has left you hurting it seems to almost be natural instinct to go to God in anger and confusion. Life is not easy for anyone. Life has an unavoidable trap: LIFE IS NOT FAIR! We ask God why because we believe he is in control of our lives and by all means we DESERVE to have a fair life… a life that pans out the way WE want life to be. Right?! I mean, I understand no one is perfect, but is it really justifiable to let life fall to such low levels? WHY ME??
Why is rooted in your pain. Why is root in your inability to control the circumstance. Why is rooted in a lack of understanding. Why is rooted in your desire for an ideal outcome. One thing I can say with certainty…asking “why” is okay…but press into God and know WITHOUT A DOUBT God has a plan and a purpose for you and can and will use every moment of your life, regardless why it happened to fulfill His plan for you!
Renee Swope, author of A Confident Heart Devotional once said, “If asking this question (why) pushes us farther from God rather than drawing us closer to Him, it’s the wrong question.” King David is the greatest example we have of coming to God with intensity while asking God “why” in anger. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?” Psalm 22. David was angry with God for his current circumstance. How many times have you been angry at God and allowed your thoughts go to “I’m done. If this is where being a Christian gets me, count me out!” Many people come to this conclusion. This is an example of allowing your anger with God to create distance between you and God. In this instance why is not the right question to be asking. Further exploration of your emotions is needed. Often personal expectations play a significant role in whether distance is created in the heat of the moment. Take time to cool down and then go back to God with a more clear expectation. Can I preach at you for just a second? God has given you the free gift of salvation, forgiveness for your sins, and the promise of a perfect eternity… He doesn’t owe you anything else! I know that’s harsh of me to say, but can we come to God with the why question with this expectation it is a more humbled approach that draws you nearer to God!
Let’s go back to King David and the example he left us. We read earlier where he was clearly angry and held nothing back. Psalm 22 is packed with passionate anger. But then David does something that prevents the gap from developing between him and God… he praises God! WHAT? I don’t know about you, but when I am angry at someone, offering them praise is the last thing on my agenda! But, David humbled himself and offered God praise, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!…” WOW! I can only speak for myself, but realizing anger with God is not a sin, but allowing distance to form is a sin… this put a lump in my throat. God desires an intimate relationship with YOU… an intimate relationship will make you angry more than once. Anger is an emotion, it does not have to equate with distance or lack of affection for the one you’re angry with. Anger is a call to action!
Ephesians 4:26 clearly states, “”In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry…” At the end of this anger and praise David exampled, God did not scold David or push David away. God was not angry with David, but rather God called David “a man after my own heart…” The key to anger is to end it with praise. To allow WHY to bring you nearer to God. Humble yourself before the Lord, and be dignified. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12.
I challenge you think about how this applies to your life. There are Christian counselors, pastors, and spiritual leaders ready, able, and willing to help you process your anger towards God. Give yourself the opportunity to be a person after God’s own heart!
