Spiritual Practices: Complaining to God
Overview
Somehow most of us have gotten the idea that we need to put on our best face before God. We often think that we need to be only positive and be on our best behavior. That is not what Job is doing here. He is actively complaining to and about God. He does not have a positive, "God is great even if I don't get it" attitude. He is frustrated, angry, and feels that God is ignoring and avoiding him. He is not going away quietly, however. He is going to complain bitterly until God acknowledges and responds to him.
Somehow most of us have gotten the idea that to be angry or frustrated before God demonstrates a lack of faith at best or is a sin at worst. This is not true. We have negative emotions, we get angry and frustrated, we want to complain when we feel like life or God has treated us unfairly. The reality is that God can handle our negative emotions. God can handle our complaining. In fact, it is better for us to complain before God than to hide our frustrations under a false façade of faith. What we hide from God, God cannot address or heal. If we hide our frustration, if we hide our anger, if we hide our sense of being treated unjustly, If we don't complain to God, God cannot address and heal the pain. We cannot grow, learn, or gain understanding. In our false idea of faith, we actually build barriers between us and God and isolate ourselves from him when and where we need him the most. Like Job, we need to be willing to complain to God.
Practice
If you have something in your life you are unhappy with, take some time to complain to God about it. Let him know that you are frustrated and angry over the situation. When you are done with the complaint, sit quietly and listen. Maybe God will speak something to you about it or maybe you will just be able to quiet your heart and rest in his presence. Either way, don't let a frustration or a false façade of faith keep you from reaching out to God in honesty, sincerity, and authenticity.
Overview
Somehow most of us have gotten the idea that we need to put on our best face before God. We often think that we need to be only positive and be on our best behavior. That is not what Job is doing here. He is actively complaining to and about God. He does not have a positive, "God is great even if I don't get it" attitude. He is frustrated, angry, and feels that God is ignoring and avoiding him. He is not going away quietly, however. He is going to complain bitterly until God acknowledges and responds to him.
Somehow most of us have gotten the idea that to be angry or frustrated before God demonstrates a lack of faith at best or is a sin at worst. This is not true. We have negative emotions, we get angry and frustrated, we want to complain when we feel like life or God has treated us unfairly. The reality is that God can handle our negative emotions. God can handle our complaining. In fact, it is better for us to complain before God than to hide our frustrations under a false façade of faith. What we hide from God, God cannot address or heal. If we hide our frustration, if we hide our anger, if we hide our sense of being treated unjustly, If we don't complain to God, God cannot address and heal the pain. We cannot grow, learn, or gain understanding. In our false idea of faith, we actually build barriers between us and God and isolate ourselves from him when and where we need him the most. Like Job, we need to be willing to complain to God.
Practice
If you have something in your life you are unhappy with, take some time to complain to God about it. Let him know that you are frustrated and angry over the situation. When you are done with the complaint, sit quietly and listen. Maybe God will speak something to you about it or maybe you will just be able to quiet your heart and rest in his presence. Either way, don't let a frustration or a false façade of faith keep you from reaching out to God in honesty, sincerity, and authenticity.