Can We Let God Be Angry For Us?
“Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, ‘Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.’” - Romans 12:9, WEBBE
“Rejoice, you nations, with his people,
for he will avenge the blood of his servants.
He will take vengeance on his adversaries,
and will make atonement for his land and for his people.”
- Deuteronomy 32:43
Jesus could have sent me a verse merely saying I should avoid being angry. But the one I got was a verse reminding me that vengeance comes from God.
Because of this, I felt more understood. I had a deeper realization of God’s love.
“Your tears were collected by the angels and were placed in a golden chalice, and you will find them when you present yourself before God.” - St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
He knows the times when we’re in so much sadness and pain that we do get angry. He knows the times when we have experienced so much unfairness and injustice in the world.
He doesn’t say that we shouldn’t feel we’re aggrieved or hurt. But He is saying that we should let Him be the Judge of everything in the world and in our lives.
We should not take vengeance upon our hands because there is One who can better render Justice where it is due. In that way, letting go of our anger is giving “a place to God’s wrath.”
And the other two verses from today’s Bible reading (February 10, 2022) support the fact that God does get angry.
“The LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he didn’t keep that which the LORD commanded. Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, ‘Because this is done by you, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant. Nevertheless, I will not do it in your days, for David your father’s sake; but I will tear it out of your son’s hand. However, I will not tear away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.’” - 1 Kings 11:9-13, WEBBE
“Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.
…
Therefore the LORD burnt with anger against his people.
He abhorred his inheritance.”
- Psalm 106:37,40 WEBBE
It is very difficult to keep silent when we are hurt, when injustice has been done upon us and we are powerless to do anything. But the Lord seems to be saying that we should not take this burden upon our shoulders. We should instead offer it to God and realize that we are not alone. There is One who sees, One who understands, and One who will defend us from those that seek to harm us.
“I heard the voice of Our Lady: Know, My daughter, that although I was raised to the dignity of Mother of God, seven swords of pain pierced My heart. Don’t do anything to defend yourself; bear everything with humility; God Himself will defend you.”- Diary of St. Faustina, 786
“The Lord answered me, I was your Teacher, I am and I will be; strive to make your heart like unto My humble and gentle Heart. Never claim your rights. Bear with great calm and patience everything that befalls you. Do not defend yourself when you are put to shame, though innocent. Let others triumph. Do not stop being good when you notice that your goodness is being abused. I Myself will speak up for you when it is necessary. Be grateful for the smallest of My graces, because your gratitude compels Me to grant you new graces.” - Divine Mercy In My Soul, 1701
Jesus is not powerless. Yet He chose to remain silent and to entrust everything to the Father when people mocked Him and did all sorts of evil against Him.
“When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then Pilate said to him, ‘Don’t you hear how many things they testify against you?’
He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marvelled greatly.”
- Matthew 27:12-14, WEBBE
We do not remain silent because we are hopeless. We remain silent because we choose to put our hope in God.
Do you have any questions to God? You may want to take a look at my book “Questions to God” — click here.
You may also want to read:
Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief
Get my books from other digital stores — click here
Jocelyn Soriano is a Catholic devotional writer and poet. Aside from Medium, she also writes at I Take Off the Mask and Single Catholic Writer.