Is God Mad at Me? Trusting God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense
Over a year ago, before cancer was even on our radar my husband asked me this question:
“Is God mad at us?”
“No!” I auto-responded “I mean, I don’t think so…that’s not how it works…right?”
We had two car engines completely die on us in the last 3 months and now both showers were backing up. The bills from our surprise pregnancy were stacking up. It felt like we were in a series of unfortunate events that wouldn’t let up.
Life was hard. We were tired. And discouraged and God seemed angry at worst and distant at best. But when my husband voiced that sentiment out loud my church-girl knee-jerk reaction was an automatic “of course not”.
But also, our current circumstances did feel a little like dodging lightning bolts from the bearded and fickle Zeus in the Hercules movie.
Truth for when you ask, “Is God Mad at Me?”
I don’t know what kinds of things are stacking up in your life— a wayward child, a diagnosis, a bank account run dry, a relationship breakdown, or a childhood wound lingering far too long. Life on earth isn’t trouble-free—even when we are followers of Jesus. I know this. Or rather, my head knows this, but my heart still feels a little lost when everything goes sideways.
Maybe you’ve felt that way too. The disconnect between who you KNOW God to be and the version of life you’re currently living.
Amidst the lack, complexities, and uncertainties of this current season, I am reaching out my trembling fingers to wrap around this promise about God and His faithfulness.
Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you. I will praise your name, for you have accomplished wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. -Isaiah 25:1 (CSB)
This Scripture reminds me God is personal, not distanced from me, even on my worst days. There are no rewrites or edits needed to God’s plans for me. They are always flawless and for my good. He doesn’t kick me when I’m down, instead He is simply present with me.
RELATED: 30 PROMISES OF GOD IN SCRIPTURE
It was true last year and it’s true this year too. I am tenaciously believing God’s plans for me are kind and faithful despite the unexpected present, fears about the future, and ghosts of the past. Perhaps everything that feels like a struggle now will serve as a highlighter in the future, drawing more attention to how wisely and patiently God is ordering my life.
I wish I could say every circumstance in our life that made me feel like God was distant or angry has resolved to our total satisfaction with a neat bow on top. Our hardships haven’t magically disappeared. On the days I don’t get the answer I want and the whispers of “Is God mad at me?” sneak in, I’m purposefully speaking the truth I know from Scripture even louder. (Yes, I literally lay a hand over my heart and say these short statements out loud.)
God is with me.
God is for me.
God loves me with an everlasting love.
God can never not be faithful to me.
It may feel silly the first time you do it, but affirming God’s love and care out loud has been a powerful practice for me. You too can cover your life—the long-term hardships, the struggle-bus days, and little inconveniences– with these truths, trusting God’s perfect faithfulness will reveal itself in time.
God is with you– in the big and small heartaches of life
God is for you– working faithfully in your life for your good and His glory.
God loves you with an everlasting love– God’s not mad at you; in fact, He will never run out of affection for you.
God can never not be faithful to you– it’s not just what He does, it’s who He is.
