Angry with God?
Scripture Reading — Psalm 42
I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning . . . ?”
A woman in our church community was struggling. Her father had died. And then, just two days after the funeral, her mother had a stroke and was taken to the hospital. With tears in her eyes, the woman said to us, “I am sad, and I am angry. It’s so unfair.” She was angry with God because she felt he was unfair. It seemed to her that God didn’t care.
So many things in life can make us frustrated and sometimes angry with God. At times it can seem that God doesn’t care enough for his people who love and worship him. And then, oddly, it can also seem that God cares more for people who don’t want anything to do with him. Sometimes they even mock believers and say, “Where is your God?”—and yet they might enjoy great wealth and prosperity.
Why is it that millions of people live in poverty, while others have more money than they can use? Why is there persecution for some and freedom for others?
There are no easy answers to these questions. Meanwhile, the psalmist reminds us to “put [our] hope in God.” And through the prophet Isaiah God gently says that his thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). In this season, God also asks us to turn to the child born in Bethlehem to be assured that the Lord cares for us, no matter what.
Lord, our God, so many things happen that we do not understand. Help us to trust that your will and your way are always good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Arthur J. Schoonveld
Rev. Art Schoonveld is a retired minister in the Christian Reformed Church. Before retiring in 2001, he served churches in California, Illinois, and Michigan. Since his retirement he has worked part-time for the denomination and has served as an interim pastor. Art and his wife, Anita, have four children and nine grandchildren.
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