When bad things happen, we want to know, Why is this happening to me? We often look for someone to blame. Believers in Jesus Christ know that God has control over everything, but sometimes instead of finding comfort in God’s plan for us, we struggle against it. Today’s e-mail asks:
Is it a sin to get mad at God? Because I get angry at Him sometimes.
Just about all of us, at one time or another, become angry at God because things aren’t going our way. But does He get angry in return? No. God understands our weaknesses and our frailties. He knows when we are frustrated and don’t understand what’s going on.
When this happens, first we need to ask, Why am I angry with God? He’s the Sovereign of the universe, who controls all things and promised to turn everything for your good when you’re walking in His will. When we recognize those facts, the answer becomes clear: We’re angry with God because He has allowed something in our life that we don’t like.
The Bible tells us, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Eph. 4:26-27). So the real issue here is not our feelings of anger but whether or not we’re sinning in that anger. It depends on whether our emotions become rebellion toward God. If we pray and ask Him to change something and He doesn’t, and we get mad and decide to go our own way, that’s a problem. So, is it ever a sin to be angry with God? Yes, when there is a spirit of rebellion toward the Lord and His will in your life.
When you recognize this attitude, confess it. Ask the Lord to reveal what’s going on and to forgive you. Surrender yourself to Him and move on. There’s no need to wallow in your frustration. Just say, Lord, I’m angry. I don’t understand. I need You to help me through this. Will He? Yes, He will. He understands our anger and is willing to forgive us and change us.
Editor’s note: This Q&A was adapted from an archived broadcast of In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley.
