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Too often I hear people talk guiltily about feeling anger toward God. More
often than not, we get angry at God over things over which we have no
control. If we don't control it, God must - someone has to be in control!
It may be a failed relationship. Or the death of a loved one. Or our
cumulative grief over the on-going HIV/AIDS crisis. Or financial worries.
Or any number of things about which we feel we have no control.
So we are angry. And since no one else seems to be available to be angry at,
we get angry at God.
And we feel guilty. We feel we shouldn't get angry at God! We worry that
God's feelings will be hurt. Or worse yet, God will return our anger - and
we all know how much better at being angry God could be!
Nonsense.
I say, Go ahead, be angry at God!
This isn't like the old saying about not teaching a pig to sing, because you
won't succeed and it will only irritate the pig. Being angry at God may
indeed have a salutary effect on your life. And I don't believe it will
irritate God.
First of all, God already knows that we are angry - if not, then God isn't
God. Being all-knowing, God is quite familiar with your anger, even before
you are. Our anger will not come as a surprise to God.
Second, God knows the source of our anger. God knows the events and
experiences that make us angry. God knows our emotions and feelings. God
knows all about our situation. God might even share our anger!
Third, God knows why we are angry - the feelings of helplessness, fear,
confusion, and dismay that lead to our anger. God intimately knows the inner
workings of our minds and spirits, and God knows our limitations. We often
are angry because we are powerless, and God knows our powerlessness.
Fourth, God can take it. Oh yes, our anger is so titanic that God will quail
before us! Nonsense. God has faced greater anger than ours and survived!
God's shoulders are broad and powerful - God can certainly deal with our puny
anger. We do not run the risk of harming God with our anger.
So if God already knows about our anger, understands the source of our anger,
discerns why we are angry, and can easily handle our anger, why are we
reluctant or guilty about expressing our anger?
In fact, some times expressing our anger can be a good thing for us. It is
good to vent a bit. Rather than keeping it all pent up inside us, some times
just letting go and yelling our heads off can be a good thing. Too often we
let our anger fester inside us, building up and growing until it seeks escape
in destructive and violent ways. Let off some of that steam - go outside and
yell at God. Sit in your room and tell God what you think. Pace your living
room and give God a piece of your mind. Give God a good talking to! Read
God's beads!
You just might feel better and God won't be any worse off - honest!
Then you can go about the business of seeing with a clearer mind if there
might be some way for you to do something about the situation. Clear the air
with God about your anger, and then sit down with God and try to figure
something out. But it is often necessary to get that anger and fury out of
the way first. Having done that, you can more calmly and dispassionately
consider the problem about which you are angry and find ways to do something
constructive about it.
So go ahead, be angry at God. God can take it. There won't be any
retribution from God. And you might be able to do some clear and
constructive thinking about what made you angry after venting your emotions.
Adam DeBaugh is the Director of Chi Rho Press, a publishing house serving the GLBT community, providing books and other resources to nourish the spiritual and religious aspects of our lives.
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Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse Dr. Rembert Truluck Rev. Michael E. England
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Also In This Issue:
Prayer To Mary From Her Forgotten Children
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