Loving Jesus Part 7

LOVE....it is not easily angered. (1 Cor 13:5)

Anger appears to more often occur in response to feelings of being hurt. Rather than confessing our hurt feelings and exposing our vulnerability, it seems easier to avoid the appearance of weakness and react with anger instead.  We do that to protect our egos, but if I think before I act, I should never have to protect my ego from my Creator.

In my own heart, I respond in anger when I feel that God seems to not care what happens to me.  What appears to be a lack of caring or gentleness on His part causes me hurt and I lash out at Him instead. "How could you let this happen!”  The pain is further compounded when I allow that distance and anger to stand in between my spirit and His.  And I feel rejected and abandoned by Him all because He didn't respond the way I expected Him too.  The more I pull away from Him, the greater the distance grows and the more I try to hurt Him back by ignoring Him.  It’s a vicious cycle that could have been so easily avoided.  This response is not my intention but it seems to come out without thinking when pain is felt.

 Do you suppose Jesus feels hurt when I blame Him for trials that He has already warned us about? He promised that trials and hardships would come to all who follow Him. "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him." (Phil 3: 29)  

No matter how I get angry with Jesus it all seems to stem from what I expect from Him.  And when expectations are not realized, anger  reflexively occurs.  What a sorry state this puts me in.  Wow; it’s hard to reflect on how I treat Jesus.

Because I love my Jesus I would expect Him to do what’s best for me.  Not what I think is best for me, but what He knows is best for me.  Expecting Him to do that, is exactly the kind of expectation that will provide a healthy response towards Him rather than an angry one. 

"Teach me never to question Your intentions Jesus, or Your motives, but believe that You are, absolutely, always for me and never against me."

If I did that, I would never have a reason for anger.  And that would give Jesus a reason to smile because I would be loving Him.  I would just be loving Him!

copyright 3/27/2015