Angry With God?

When God saw what the people did, that they stopped doing evil, he changed his mind and did not do what he had warned. He did not punish them.

But this made Jonah very unhappy, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “When I was still in my own country this is what I said would happen, and that is why I quickly ran away to Tarshish. I knew that you are a God who is kind and shows mercy. You don’t become angry quickly, and you have great love. I knew you would choose not to cause harm. 

Jonah 3:10-4:2 

Have you ever been mad at God?  I have.  And then I was angry at myself for being mad at God.  I was mad at God when He called my Grampa home.  I was mad at God when my life fell apart.  I was mad at God when, just when I thought things were looking up, the bottom dropped out again.  I was mad at God, and I let Him know it in no uncertain terms!

I remember being so angry I just had to get away, so I went to my favorite spot and I just told God exactly how I felt.  I even dared Him to take me out!  But He didn't.  Instead, He sent people across my path to remind me that I am loved.  He sent people into my life that needed what He had taught me.  He sent people into my life that I needed to learn from. 

One of the wisest people I have met, aside from Grampa, is a Rabbi.  He told me the main reason we get mad with God is because we can't see the whole picture.  We know there's more, but God doesn't show us everything.  Our perspective is limited, which is why we learn to Trust God to love us through our hurt and anger.  He said when he felt angry at God, he says this prayer, "God, I don't like you right now and You know it!  Thank you for loving me anyway."  

It's okay to be mad at God, that's not going to stop Him from loving you!