God's Wisdom In A Nutshell

Have you ever been mad at God?  Have you ever been so frustrated, shocked or disillusioned with your circumstances that you took your anger and fired it directly at our Heavenly Father?

Several years ago, a friend of mine told me that her girlfriend  lost her husband in a snowmobile accident by falling through the ice.  My friend then said “I’m mad at God right now.”  As she spoke those words I thought to myself, “Although this is a horrendous event,  I would never be mad at God; it just doesn’t seem right.”

But as life would have it, I recently found myself with a similar attitude, I was supremely angry at God! Not only that, my anger wasn’t nearly as justified as in the case above. And, to be honest, my words were much stronger than my friends words and pointed directly at God himself. “Thou shall not take the Lord’s name in vain.”(Ex 20:7)

I can honestly say however, that I am NOT proud of myself.  I was mad at a situation that has persisted and I wondered why God hasn’t put an end to it when He is omnipotent! As I ranted and raved about the situation, telling God that I am standing on a promise of His that guarantees He will help me, I added that I wasn’t going to sleep that night until He changed my circumstance.

So, not only was I mad at God, I took a promise of His and told Him when He should deliver it!  Hmm… not very Christian- like!

It was storming the night as I was telling God what to do, and  I was in my bedroom.  A bright flash of lightening entered my room followed by a loud crack of thunder that shook my bed.  Yes, the bed that I was sitting on was shaking- nothing else in the room- just my bed!  WOW! It was so unusual to have thunder shake only one large object in the room that I took notice.

I got the distinct feeling that God was trying to get my attention, so I decided to open my Bible and this is what I read…

“Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, and His lightening to the ends of the earth. After it His voice roars, He thunders with His majestic voice and He does not restrain the lightening when His voice is heard. God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does wonders that we cannot comprehend.”

I knew that God heard my anger and He heard me tell Him what to do.  He made it very clear to me that I don’t understand everything and I never will.  I need to let Him deliver His promises in His timing and  lean on Him in the meantime.

“In all things God works for the good for those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28) 

Lets take a look at the snowmobiling accident again.  Did God tell that father of three to go out and snowmobile with his buddies on thin ice?  Did God tell that husband to partake in a dangerous activity?   This accident is one of God’s classrooms.  My friend and the new widow can cling to God during this terrible time, knowing God didn’t put those men on thin ice.  Therefore, if  these women trust God, knowing He will walk them through this horrific situation, they will avoid anger and subsequent poor choices that can increase pain and suffering. God can also make the outcome of that widow’s life better than she ever imagined if she clings to Him throughout her life.

In times of sudden suffering or long suffering, we can lose our patience and misdirect our anger toward God. In doing this we can forget that God loves and cares for us.  We need to dig into our faith during times like these and know that if we cling to God, doing His will- trusting Him for the best outcome- we will never be disappointed.  God can make beauty from our ashes.

“To all who mourn, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, a festive praise instead of despair, in their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory.”(Isaiah 61:3)

Translation, don’t be mad at God! He is doing things in His timing and in His way. We as human beings are arrogant to think we can figure out all of the dealings of the Lord.  Does He give us specific instructions in the Bible as to how He thinks? Yes.  But also “My ways are higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”( Isaiah 55:9)

Therefore, when you are in a situation that is painful, long suffering or almost too much to bear, turn to God.  Not in anger as I did, but for help, rest and hope that you can count on Him to help you.  We all suffer from our own choices and that’s not God’s fault.  But God will help us in all cases as we walk in His ways and refuse turn our anger toward our all-loving God.

God’s Promise:

“God is not human that He should lie, not a human being that He should change His mind, does He speak then not act? Does He promise then not fulfill?” (Num 23:19)

Just remember, we can’t tell Him when to fulfill a promise!

Music For Your Soul:

“Promises” by Sanctus Real.