Even When He’s Upset With Us!
There are many people whose nerves are being stretched, their patience is giving out – they are frustrated and weary. You might be surprised to know, but even God gets angry:
God is my shield,
saving those whose hearts are true and right.
11 God is an honest judge.
He is angry with the wicked every day. Psalm 7:11-12 (NLT)
We can provoke the wrath of an otherwise loving God by willfully sinning against His Word, over and over again. Each of us if we are honest have sinned either in thought, word or deed. Thank God repentance is a part of the covenant;
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.
9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:8-9 (KJV)
When our heart is free from the stain of sin, we are able to pray in faith, knowing that God will hear us:
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1 John 3:20 (KJV)
This assurance that our repentance brings us in right standing with God is a good thing. What we know however, is that even when we fall short of fully appropriating the grace of God, His mercy still flows:
For his anger endureth but a momenthis favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.Psalm 30:5 (KJV)
"I live in the high and holy places,
but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed,
And what I do is put new spirit in them,
get them up and on their feet again.
For I’m not going to haul people into court endlessly,
I’m not going to be angry forever.
Otherwise, people would lose heart.
These souls I created would tire out and give up.
I was angry, good and angry, because of Israel’s sins.
I struck him hard and turned away in anger,
while he kept at his stubborn, willful ways.
When I looked again and saw what he was doing,
I decided to heal him, lead him, and comfort him,
creating a new language of praise for the mourners.
Peace to the far-off, peace to the near-at-hand," says God—
"and yes, I will heal them. Isaiah has 57:18-20 (MSG)
God loves us with an everlasting love, He will see us through, have faith in God.
Maria