Is It Okay To Be Mad At God? - One Year of Dinner Table Devotions and Discussion Starters

Is It Okay to Be Mad at God?

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the LORD about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, LORD? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.” . . .

The LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Jonah 4:1-2, 4

The people will declare, “The LORD is the source of all my righteousness and strength.” And all who were angry with him will come to him and be ashamed.

Isaiah 45:24

Mad at God. Have you ever felt that way? Were you disappointed that he didn’t answer your prayer the way you’d hoped, or were you angry that he seemed to take away something or someone you love?

Sometimes people encourage us to express our anger toward God, assuring us that God understands and accepts our honest emotions. It’s natural to be angry when you don’t get your way, and God is an easy target for that anger. But do we really have a right to be angry with our Creator? Does God really owe us an explanation for what he does? When it comes down to it, isn’t it pretty arrogant for us as limited, sinful creatures to disapprove of what God does and what he permits?

Does this mean that being honest with God about how you feel is sinful? No. When we feel it, we might as well admit it, since he knows anyway, and being fake about it only adds to our sin. You may feel angry with God at times, but as you work through your feelings and as you inform your feelings by what you know to be true about God, you can reject the temptation to turn your back on God. You can refuse to point a finger in the face of God, saying, “You are not good!” Instead, you can pour out your angry feelings before God, asking him to correct your wrong thoughts and change your strong feelings. He gives angry people grace and peace.

DISCUSSION STARTERS

How does your anger usually come out when you are mad at someone?

What is the difference between pouring out your disappointment before God and accusing God of doing something wrong?

Understanding that this world is broken because of sin, where should our anger be directed instead of at God?