This is the Truth Network. Encouraging prayer. God offers an open invitation for his people to talk with him at any time about anything. On encouraging prayer, Dr. James Banks, author of the best-selling Prayers for Prodigals and many other books on prayer, provides weekly biblical insight to help you learn to love to pray.
And now, here's James.
So today we're going to talk about how to pray when you're angry with God. Most people may not think to go there, but James, uh you have a different take on this. Yeah, it's one of those things that I think we face more often. Then we may want to admit Sometimes You know, you find yourself in a place where you've prayed about something and still, you know, it seems like nothing has happened. And I had that happen to me not too long ago.
I was thinking about. prayers that I had prayed long ago, for someone I love. And You know? not only did nothing seem to happen, the very opposite seemed to happen as a result. And the more I thought about that, the more upset I became.
And I found myself Angry with God. And you know how they say the best kind of writing comes out of personal experience?
Well, you know. When I saw that topic, my mind went there. Oh, this should be good. Where did that happen? How did that happen?
What was the result?
Well, you know, first of all, Again, uh I was I was praying for um uh for someone I love, someone I've been praying for for a long time. And continue to pray for on not only a daily basis, but several times a day. And um You know, Sometimes you you have Bad days. And the beautiful thing is God knows that. God understands that.
And You you know, you you might think, Well, who am I to be angry with God?
Okay. That's fair. But What gets really interesting is when you realize that scripture allows. This very kind of thing. It tells about this very kind of interaction with God.
And it does so quite often.
Now you can see prayers like this in the Psalms. You can see it in Habakkuk at the very beginning of it. But my favorite is in Numbers chapter 11. And this is when Moses is now out in the wilderness. with the people.
And of course, God has brought them out of Egypt, but he's dealing with rabble. There's it's just continual complaints. And if you look at verse 10, It begins. Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. the Lord became exceedingly angry.
And Moses was troubled. He asked the Lord, Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you and put the burden of all these people on me? God is angry, and Moses is angry with God. And Moses goes on, did I conceive all these people?
Did I. Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms as a nurse carries an infant to the land you promised on oath? to their ancestors. Notice that. You know, he's like, wait a minute.
Wait a minute, God, you brought us into this situation. You, you promised on oath that they'd have this land. Then he goes on, where can I get meat? for all these people. They keep wailing to me, Give us some give us meat to eat.
I cannot carry all those people by myself. The burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you're going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me. If I have found favor in your eyes, and do not let me face my own ruin. In other words, Moses is saying, God, just shoot me now.
Yeah, and who can't relate to the rabble, right? That You know, how did I end up in charge of this mess? Right. Right. And sometimes circumstances happen.
We just we don't know how we got there. And sure, we can look at ourselves and we can say, you know, I could have done this or that differently. But sometimes you can also look at prayers that you've prayed. And you find that place where you have to trust. You know?
Because the answer hasn't come yet, or what seems to be the answer is very difficult. And, you know, people can spin out all kinds of theological um do's and don'ts with regard to this, but but the point of scriptural prayer so often is that it is just relational. And that is what God desires of us. And interestingly, you see God giving a relational response. in this regard.
So, if you keep on reading in verse 16, the Lord said to Moses, Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you. and put it on them. In other words.
Moses I think you need a break. Yeah. You know, this has been too much for you. And you need some support, so I'm going to give some of my spirit. to others around you to help carry the load.
So so God promises Moses Help. In response. That's God's response to Moses' angry prayer. Isn't that fascinating? Absolutely beautiful, right?
I you know, it's it's Like, wow, here I'm, he's responding. but not necessarily in the way that Moses wanted him to, like straighten this mess out. Yeah. Yeah, that's quite often the response I get for some reason. Mm-hmm.
Yeah. Yeah, you know uh I think the important thing when we come across this in our own lives And, you know, let me tell you: if you never come across this in your own life, then you are so holy that you don't need to pray. Yeah. And if you hear some irony in that, then you're absolutely right. Yes, you know.
Because this is just being real. with God. And and that's the beautiful thing. We get to be.
Now the advice of Scripture to follow here is recognizing First of all, Um In your anger do not sin. And then, secondly, God is in heaven, and you are on earth, so let your words be few.
So be careful. Right? This is Almighty God we're speaking to. but this is also Abba Father, and He knows our hearts. And most people have the response of, you know, when they're angry, they just shut down.
You know, they quit talking to God. They get disillusioned. And we need to do the very opposite thing. We need to take that and say, wait a minute. You know, and and recognize that prayers like, How long, O Lord?
You know, or Lord, why? you know are are just interwoven throughout Scripture. This would be a good time to pray. Do it. All right, Lord, thank you.
Thank you for this insight. Thank you that you meet us where we're at, in sadness or in madness. And so, Lord, we pray that you would give us wisdom in these times not to turn away, but turn towards and push into our relationship with you that it might go deeper. Help us to whet our appetite for those moments in this. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen. Amen. You can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray.
