Be Angry

Lamentations 3:48-66, Ephesians 4:25-32

We’ve taken a turn towards anger in this lament—a cry for relief from pain and suffering. When we are mourning, they say there are five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I don’t believe those are true. Grief is complicated, and here we see the prophet fighting tears. His people are being destroyed, and they mocked his prophecies.

Now, he pleads to the one who sent him. Like many of the lamenting poems authors, he asks for justice and relief. They want the Lord to enact revenge on those who have wronged them. I don’t know about you, but I am not one to ask God to strike down my enemies, yet the Lord doesn’t rebuke him.

He listens.

“You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.” You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” (Lamentations 3:56-57).

God is near. He wants you to cry out in pain, suffering, anger, grief - just cry out. God can handle the brunt of our emotions, even when we cannot, even when we want God to enact revenge and strike down our enemies. God already knows how you feel; if this book shows you anything, it is, to be honest with how you feel. Jesus tells us to be angry and do not sin. Be angry. Cry out in pain. Let the tears stream down your face. God is not afraid of your emotions, nor will he be offended by what comes from them.

Feeling angry in itself is not sinful. Be angry in your grief. We should be mad like the prophet when sin reigns, leading the masses to death and destruction. We should cry angry tears over those kinds of things. Do not sin because of your anger, but lay on the throne of our God, who hears and reminds you that He is in control and is not afraid of your anger.