Angry With God? The Hidden Belief That Steals Your Peace

I know of a woman who is angry with God. You might think she is angry because she has lost a child or suffered some injustice, but no. Her anger is not based on any particular hurt.

This woman has served the Lord for decades. If we were comparing resumes, hers would be longer than yours. And this is why she is angry. She has served faithfully for years but God has not rewarded her for her service. The ledger is unbalanced and God owes her big time.

Or so she says.

Sadly, she is not alone. The church is full of “faithful soldiers” who have toiled for years, reaped nothing, and now they’re angry. “It’s not fair,” they say. “I gave God the best years of my life. Where is my reward?”

I used to battle these sorts of thoughts. For ten years, I worked my butt off as a pastor of a church in Hong Kong. I could not fathom why the blessed thing didn’t grow. Where was the return on my investment?

I now realize that what I thought was “faithful service” was actually an unholy alloy of ambition and insecurity. To some degree, I was operating with a mindset that said, “I need to prove myself through service” and “If I do more, God will bless us.”

There is nothing wrong with hard work and service – I love hard work! But we’re fooling ourselves if we think we can earn divine favor. If you believe God will reward you for your sweat and toil, you’re heading for disappointment. And then maybe anger. And then bitterness.

Why are you kicking against the goads?

Some people are angry with God, while others imagine God is angry with them. In either case, the hostility is all on their side. Our Father’s heart is always for peace. He sent his Son to show us that his desire is always for reconciliation (Rom. 5:10).

If you are angry with God, you need to ask yourself why. Maybe it’s because you’ve been sold a lie. Maybe you have heard a message like this: “Give to God and he will give to you. Be faithful, and God will bless you.”

Although it is blessed to serve and give, God is not your employer doling out rewards for service. In the economy of grace, it doesn’t work that way.

If you have no peace with God, you need to recognize that something is amiss. But don’t panic. Help is at hand.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1)

You might have read this verse 100 times, but if you are angry with God, that probably means you haven’t received it in your heart. You need a reset.

Start with first principles. To be justified by faith means you accept the gift of God’s justification. It means discarding tired notions of performing-to-be-blessed and resting in your Father’s favor.

What happens when we trust God 100 percent? We have peace.

How can I have peace with God?

Peace does not come from within and peace is not something we can earn or manufacture. True peace comes from the God of peace, who releases peace and joy by revealing himself and his righteousness.

Just as anger and frustration are fruits of the flesh, peace is a fruit of righteousness:

The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (Romans 14:17)

Some are angry and frustrated because they are trying to make themselves righteous or more righteous when God offers them his righteousness as a gift.

If you are angry, bitter and disappointed because of unmet expectations, stop what you are doing. Turn around. Go back to the beginning. Renew your mind, surrender your ambitions, and learn to receive by faith the gifts of his grace.

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No one has a complete handle on the goodness of God, but some people have deep revelation into key aspects of the gospel. If you want to know about the righteousness that comes by faith, it’s hard to go past E.W. Kenyon. And if you want to know about radical acceptance, I can think of no better teacher than Brennan Manning. This is why you need the Grace Masterclass. The Grace Masterclass is a collection of the very best teachings, insights, and illustrations from great authors on the gospel of grace. It’s available now on my Patreon page.