My husband and I frequently talk about our faith and our own walks with God. I believe God is right beside me at all times, and as a result, I often treat God like I would a friend or a family member. Right or wrong, that’s my relationship with Yahweh.
I often talk to him when I’m in the car alone, when I’m in the shower, when I’m riding my bike.
This familiar relationship has all of the qualities of very human relationships, including anger. And right now, I am very angry with my God.
Have you ever felt that you’ve done all the right things, you’ve been patient, you’ve done your Christian waiting, you’ve given up things and endured things that you couldn’t even imagine, you’ve fasted and still no answer to the question you’ve been asking?
I have. And as a result, I am angry. I’ve told Him so, too. My husband has often told me that he stands amazed at my relationship with my Abba. My husband often looks at me like I’m going to get zapped at any moment, too. But here’s the thing. I would rather shout at the heavens and tell my Almighty that I am extraordinarily mad at Him than turn from Him – for where will I turn then?
Have you imagined a world without your Father? I have. And it’s very bleak indeed. I would rather risk being slapped in the face by a lightning bolt than say, “I turn away from you.”
I think God appreciates the honesty of His people. I think he enjoys relationship and fellowship with us. Just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he isn’t there. I’ve wept. I’ve felt despair. I’ve felt abandoned by Him. I’ve felt like I was being punished by Him.
When I feel like this, I often think of Moses and the responsibility that God gave his most beloved, the only man that God ever called friend: To lead the Jews out of Egypt and to the Promised Land. A job that I very much doubt had the full description of – Yes, this is going to take you more than 70 years. Yes, you are going to have to deal with bull-headed people who will turn from me. Yes, people are going to die. Oh, and by the way, you will slip up, take credit for something I did, and you won’t walk into the Promised Land I’m taking my people.
I think about Job. He lost his whole family. He lost his wealth, his health. He lost his friends. He still stood by God. And not to the very end did his anger rise to confront God. And when God was done with Job, he felt like a tiny speck on the butt of a flea. After God has proved his sovereign care over Job, Job replied (Job 42:2-6): “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
I will wait upon my God. I will sit and wait for him to answer my question because he has plans for me – plans not to harm me but to build me up, to give me hope and a future.
Dear God,
I am here. I pray you see me waiting – waiting on your answer.
Love,
Susan