Part three in a series on anger. This is an excerpt from a Seminary research paper. For full context, be sure to check out parts one and two up on the blog.

Parts one and two worked to define anger. There, I noted that anger results from the heart when we perceive that wrong has been done to us. This oftens results from moments where the hopes and dreams we had for our lives are not met. Instead, we face difficulties and trials that we didn't expect and that we come to resent. 

Part three in our series will show that the resentment welling up inside of us often turns into anger aimed squarely at God. However, in those moments, we have a faithful Savior who knows our hurts and who loves us dearly. He beckons us to come to him and find rest.

Anger at God

Daniël Louw makes the connection between circumstances and anger at God. He writes, “anger is often projected onto the X-Factor in life. Within existing belief structures and religious paradigms, patients look for a possible cause to blame. In this regard, ‘God’ is introduced as a possible ‘culprit’ and accused of unfair treatment.” David Powlison argues that this is “the stance a person takes against God. It is the core commitment of the self-willed heart. We act big, as if ‘I am God.’” This last phrase, the idea “I am God”, may not be what we say or think in the moment but Powlison is correct in his assertion. The heart-level motivation that exists behind anger over unwanted circumstances is the belief that we know what is best for ourselves. This is a heart-level issue; we reject God’s providential direction of our lives and conclude that God is unjust. 

This is a problem for a few reasons. First, it assumes a knowledge that mankind does not possess. We believe that our plans or desires would bring about our greatest good and fail to trust the wisdom or knowledge of God. Second, it impugns God’s character. If God is withholding something that is “good”, then is he good? Third, and more dangerous, we have not identified God as that which is most desirable. Instead, as Powlison points out, the things he can provide or do for us have ascended to the place of most desirable and if he withholds it, then he is the problem. These misguided assumptions about ourselves and about God reveal the danger of unchecked anger. This can lead us to complain against God, grow bitter towards him, and become lax in our fight against sin.

Manifestations of Anger at God

Anger toward God can reveal itself in a variety of ways. One of the primary ways is grumbling against God because of our present circumstances. The Bible makes repeated references to how the Israelites grumbled after they left Egypt. Their hunger and thirst led them to gripe against Moses which, ultimately, was griping against the Lord himself. Of course, the Israelites are not alone in complaining about unwelcome circumstances. Edwards writes, “when men are fretful and impatient, and murmur at God’s dealings towards them, this is a most horribly wicked kind of anger. But yet this very often is, in this wicked world.” Cars breakdown, temptations to sin overwhelm, friends betray us, sufferings of various kinds present themselves which then prompt our hearts and mouths to grumble against the Lord. Perhaps this is expressed in words directed toward the Lord such as “why have you allowed this” or “why did you make me this way?” At other times this comes out in discontentment becoming the predominant emotion in our lives. Whatever the case may be, while circumstances resulting from the corruption in the world ought to be lamented, our corruption is made evident in our grumbling against the Lord for his seeming absence or neglect.

Bitterness is another way anger towards God can manifest in our lives. Consider Jonah after the Lord shows mercy to the Ninevites. His response to the Lord’s kindness is “please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live” (Jonah 4:3). His anger produced in him a bitterness that led him to prefer death to life. Bitterness will not always lead the individual to this extreme, but it can produce sharpness toward others, withdrawal from the local church, neglect of spiritual disciplines, or simply a sour disposition. The bitterness may not be aimed at God directly and yet it must be understood that this ultimately is the case. The root of the anger is that God has given the individual something that they despise. They cannot see past their displeasure at the circumstance which envelopes them in a cloud of persistent bitterness.

Finally, anger toward the Lord can present as laxity with sin. Psalmists frequently cry out to God in exasperation that the wicked seem to flourish. It's a feeling many of us can relate to. We see the wicked flourishing and wonder to ourselves, "why would I continue to struggle to do good?" This, of course, is not where the Psalmists land. They inevitably cry out to God, professing their trust in him, their belief in the flourishing of the righteous, and God's sure judgement to come against the wicked.

Sadly, in our frailty, when overcome with their disappointment, we can fail to make this turn towards God. Instead, we turn to sin in our anger. This may be a direct act of defiance towards God: “you have done this to me therefore I will not listen to you.” For others, it may come from a place of despair: “I have sought to follow the Lord and this is what it got me therefore why should I continue in faithfulness to him?” Louw points to this connection between anger and other emotions, saying “One can argue and say that anger is most of the time accompanied by fear, anxiety, a mixture of guilt and guilt feelings. It is connected to feelings of loneliness, loss, grief, dread, and melancholia.” Anger is the fuel, even if unidentified, behind these other feelings which in turn lead us to seek an escape. Sadly, that escape is often found in sin.

Perhaps we have been honest about a wrong we have done and dealt with unpleasant consequnces as a result. Anger can well up in our hearts due to the mistaken belief that acting rightly (telling the truth) should have spared us from those consequences. We're never promised this in the scriptures. In fact, we read in Hebrews 12:6 that "God disciplines the one he loves." However, sin whispers in our ear that it would be better next time to avoid consequences and so we give ourselves over to the temptation to lie.

We withold forgiveness. We seek vengeance. We despair and seek solace in something that produces death, not life. Whatever the case may be, our anger at God, because he has not done what we thought we deserved, often blinds us to the realities of his love, goodness, and mercy. Our anger weakens our will to resist sin. Sin suddenly is an appealing balm for our pain and so we quit resisting temptation, choosing to embrace it instead.

Part Four will turn toward Biblical responses to our anger at God. What we will see is that God is sovereign, provides the things what we need, and is always working for our ultimate good. Therefore, he is to be trusted in every moment.  For now, you ought to consider the things in your life that have made you angry, perhaps unruly kids, your career trajectory, a sickness, etc. How are you responding to the things in your life that you would never have chosen for yourself (or even your worst enemy)? Has it filled your mouth with grumbling? Did you find yourself consumed with bitterness? Are you looking to sinful impulses to sooth your aching soul?

Our grumbling, our bitterness, our growing apathetic toward sin, all reveals those things that we are treasuring more than Christ. These responses are the cry of the heart that if I had that, then I would be satisfied.

Christian, God has supplied you with the greatest source of joy and peace through Jesus. Consider him who, when preparing for the cross did not curse the Father for what was coming but instead said, "nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." Jesus bore the brutality of the cross, and the full cup of God's fury against your sin, to provide for the forgiveness of your sins. God has not wronged you but you have wronged him. However, rather than turning his fury upon you, he has acted for your ultimate good in delivering you through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the spotless lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. 

My friend, the responses of the flesh when life goes wrong are the ways that lead to death! Let me urge you, look to the cross! Christ suffered the most horrendous of moments to give life to all who draw near to him in faith. You may not have all the answers. Jesus hasn't promised us those. However, he has promised to be with his people, to never leave us or forsake us. You can cry out to him in your hurt and know that your cries are heard by one who loves you, who laid down his life for you, and who is familiar with your hurts. Run to Jesus.