Is it right to be angry at God?
Here is a sneak peek of my guest post at Medium.com for Koinonia in which I share 3 reasons to harbor anger toward God and why this is not right, based on the book of Jonah.
Is It Right to be Angry at God
Let’s admit it–there are situations when we feel this explosive mixture of anger, hurt feelings, and disappointment, directed at God. We need to understand why we feel this way and deal properly with that.
In Jonah chapter 4, we find a servant of God, who has accomplished his mission to proclaim God’s judgment to Nineveh and called them to repentance.
But instead of being satisfied, he is extremely angry.
Why?
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Three Reasons for Jonah’s Anger Toward God
Overall, Jonah’s anger at God was fueled by the fact that God didn’t do what Jonah expected Him to do.
But here are the three specific reasons Jonah was angry at God. Exploring these reasons can help us check our hearts and identify the reason for our anger.
Is it right to be angry at God? Find out the 3 reasons Jonah was angry at God based on Jonah chapter 4. #Biblestudy #angryatGod #encouragement Share on X#1 Angry at God for Showing Compassion to Our Enemies
Interestingly, God’s Mercy and Compassion were the first and main reason for Jonah’s burning anger. Here are Jonah’s words:
“I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” (Jonah 4:2)
The problem was that God showed compassion to his enemies. Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, was one of the worst enemies of the Jews, famous for their hostility and atrocities. It is normal for us humans to expect God to punish our enemies instead of forgiving them.
But our God is a God of Mercy, Love, and Grace. He loves all people, including our enemies, and His will is that all people turn to Him.
In Christ, we have the supernatural power from God to love all people, especially our enemies. This love compels us to forgive them, pray for them, and want the best for them.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43–45)
Read the rest of the post at Medium.com to learn which are the other two reasons to be angry at God, why it is not right to be angry at Him, and what anger reveals about the conditions of our hearts.
A Helpful Resource to Process Anger and Disappointment
Anger and disappointment go hand in hand. Do you want to change and transform the way you think about your disappointments? This e-book “How to Overcome Disappointment and Discouragement” dives deeper into this topic. You will learn about the role of our expectations, desires, rights, and needs, as well as the role of false beliefs, and more biblical steps to deal with anger and disappointments. Click here to get it into your email box today!
More Encouragement for You
If you need more resources, encouragement, and comfort in handling your anger and disappointments, I can highly recommend these books. Check them out.
Uprooting Anger by Robert D. Jones
Draw Near: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings by Hadassah Treu
Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk
Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert
Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero
Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst
Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley
Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge
All Things New by John Eldredge
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Your Turn
Are you angry with God? Why? Share in the comments and on social media if you found this article helpful. Thank you!
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Thank you for helping to answer the question about whether is it right to be angry at God. The resources provided are so helpful for both encouragement and comfort in handling anger.
Thanks, Debbie! I am glad you found the article and the resources helpful and encouraging. Blessings!
I can’t recall ever being really angry at God, but I have not yet experienced huge losses in my life. I know if I live long enough, it will happen. It seems that anger at God comes when things don’t turn out the way we think they should. Thanks for giving me something to mull over in my mind this morning. Your insights are always thought-provoking.
Thanks, Lisa! I am glad you found the post thought-provoking. Yes, deep losses and tragedies can provoke anger toward God which is part of grief. It was part of my grief journey, too.
Ooh. I love the Jonah story and I find that part fascinating about Jonah being upset that God loves the “wrong people”. What a great comment on human nature…and a reminder to pray even for our enemies.
Thanks, Rebecca! Yes, in Christ it is possible to love even our enemies, pray for them, and want the best for them.
Seeing God already knows all my thoughts from afar, Im learning to keep it 100% real with Him. Even when I feel angry…
That’s the best we can do, Nancy! He already knows everything, but He invites us to share our hearts with Him and unburden. He is really the One to whom we can tell everything.
That is such an interesting point you make here, Hadassah. Jonah so clearly recognized God’s goodness …. and was mad that God could be so good!? How often are we actually that way without realizing it. Something truly to pray about today. Thank you!
Thanks, friend! Yes, unfortunately, it happens often – when God shows goodness and mercy toward us, it is okay, but when He does the same toward other people, especially people we don’t like and don’t approve of, we have a problem.