God Will Wait

Today's readings: Psalms 42; 146, Deuteronomy 6:16-25, Hebrews 2:1-10,  John 1:19-28

In church we learn to praise and worship and express our gratitude to God. We thank God for the good things in our lives, and ask for his strength during the bad times. We admire people whose faith is rock-solid even during times of crisis, and usually aspire to have that kind of faith ourselves. In fact, there may be a little cultural pressure from other Christians not to express negative emotions toward God.

So let’s thank him for one more thing: the psalmists! They were not afraid to rail at God when things got tough. The author of Psalm 42 declares: “My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, ‘Where is your God?’” (v 3) This psalmist is not afraid to ask: “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?” (v 9) And these were not private episodes behind a locked door where the other faithful could not see and judge: they were public declarations recorded for the ages. If psalms of lamentation made it into the Bible, just maybe it’s all right for us to express such feelings ourselves, even in public.

God is not so fragile that he will turn away from us like a fair weather friend because we’ve hurt his feelings. During Rosh Hashanah faithful Jews make atonement for their failings, but part of the tradition also involves calling God to account for the state of the world. The very name of the nation of Israel means “wrestling with God.” We are not required to be always happy or even satisfied with God. It might even be impossible, since we are built to be in a relationship with God, and all deep relationships at some point experience conflict.

An argument does not end a real relationship. Handled properly, it is a chance for learning and growth – though when we argue with God it is almost certainly we are the ones who need to grow. At the close of the psalm, the psalmist tells his soul: “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God” (v 11b). If at this or any moment you are angry with God, it’s not the end of the relationship. God will wait.

Evening readings: Psalms 102; 133