How do I rid myself of anger, frustration, and resentment toward God?
Question:
How do I rid myself of anger, frustration, and resentment toward God?
Life isn't, and probably shouldn't be, heaven on earth, but I feel at times as though things are withheld (Luke 18:1). Did I not pray hard enough or long enough for something? Does God keep "score?" Perhaps I have not been faithful in the little so I cannot be faithful with much?
Is our happiness irrelevant to God? Does He care if we don't enjoy living or have fun (in non-sinful ways)? Is it entirely my fault when I no longer enjoy many things in life?
It's interesting to note that anything I can bring against God as an "accusation," He could more than easily flip it back on to me.
Answer:
Happiness is not something granted to or withheld from a person. Happiness is your personal attitude regarding your life. You could be happy is little or much, or you could be miserable with little or much. "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13).
For many people, the answer is “I would be happy, if ...” In other words, if something changed, then I could be happy. Sometimes the change is something simple: “Once I lose another ten pounds, I’ll be happy.” But too often the demand is over something a person has no control: “If I was five inches taller, I would be happy.” Of course, you can't change your height, so the person remains unhappy throughout his life.
Abraham Lincoln noted, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Happiness isn’t something given to you. Happiness is how you choose to see your life. Paul's command would not be possible if happiness was not your choice: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near" (Philippians 4:4-5).
Because of our trust in God, Christians can be happy even while dealing with problems. "He who gives attention to the word will find good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD" (Proverbs 16:20). "Light is sown like seed for the righteous and gladness for the upright in heart. Be glad in the LORD, you righteous ones, and give thanks to His holy name" (Psalms 97:11-12).
Happiness is not a new car, a big home, or a new toy. Happiness is spiritual. It is your outlook on life.
But notice that you decide to be unhappy when God doesn't answer your requests in the way that you expect or at the time that you want it. God is not a vending machine where you put in some prayers and get a result. He is our King who considers our requests and the answers them as He knows will best help us. "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him" (I John 5:14-15).
Thus, count the blessings you have. See the good life that you have at present and be thankful for it. If you focus on the things you don't have, you'll never be happy because no matter how much you have, there will always be things you don't have.
