"It is -not- okay to be angry with God, even if God can take it."

I agree. But when one does get mad at God, one of His genuine children, how should we handle it?

I had a sister in Christ who lost her 4 year old son when he got choked to death on the sliding board in her back yard. She was mainly hating herself in her extremely heavy grief, but she was mad at God for taking Daniel, her sons name.

I let it alone. I did try to comfort her in her excruciating pain, but it was too painful at the time.
She has, by the grace of God, worked her way out of all this, and she is a wonderful servant of the Lord for Youth in Christ.

so, do you think if someone like Linda is mad, it's understandable for a season?

Repenting will surely have to come.

I know others who became mad at God, but it was from simply not getting their way. I have told these people to repent quickly.

Another post full of good wisdom Daniel. Thanks.

Have a blessed Lord's Day.

 

Don,

The bible says to mourn with those who mourn. In the situation you described I can understand Linda's anger - it seems to me, from what you said, that it would have been born of the grief and desire to blame someone for taking away a child who was dearly loved in this world. If our children belong to us, and not God, we can be angry with God when He takes one, or all of them, away. There is a couple that live within walking distance of our church. They have a little boy named Joel who will likely die a very painful, horrible death before he turns two years old. If you asked Steve and Karen if they would prefer to have their child live to the age of four, they would jump at the privilege. They spend ninety minutes every four hours feeding him. They haven't slept a full nights sleep in over a year. They won't sleep a full night's sleep until Joel is gone. But they wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice two more years of sleep on top of this just to know their son a little better. They understand that each day is a gift to us who are the stewards of our children. They are thankful for each day they have. It is easier to be thankful for what you receive, when you understand that you have no right to demand what you have been given. If there has been love and joy, it is a gift, and if the Lord takes our children from us, we can only be angry because we believe that the child had a right to life, and we had a right to enjoy that life. Some learn this lesson the hardest way imaginable - and we must guard against being calloused and unloving in bearing witness to such a truth, for when understood it is a great comfort, but handled poorly, it can be a knife that cuts.

I think that the more mature one is spiritually, the more able one is to bear witness to such a truth in grace.

So how one reacts to a situation such as Linda's would depend on their maturity spiritually speaking. Surely the Lord will work such a thing out without human hands being required if she is His child, but if one has some gift, and can share it without malice, so that it is received, then one should share it.

I think we are right to rebuke those who are not working out the truth in their grief, but we ought to be very careful, taking our cues from those more mature than ourselves, when dealing with this sort of tragedy.

Good comment sir.

 

".. and we must guard against being calloused and unloving in bearing witness to such a truth, for when understood it is a great comfort, but handled poorly, it can be a knife that cuts."

Unskilled with a sword is quite dangerous.

Thanks Daniel for your response.