Jonah 4:1 – “But it greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry.”

We may deny it, but many have been angry with or at God.   It may be latent and seething beneath the surface if it is there.  The account of Jonah is an example.   After he finally fulfilled God’s directive, Jonah got mad because God didn’t smash the Ninivites like a bug.  (Jonah 4:1) 

Jonah didn’t like what happened, so he went to sulk in seclusion.  Sometimes, isolating ourselves is a revelation that there is disappointment and even anger toward the Lord beneath the surface.  Why?   Often, we deem that He failed us or, in Jonah’s case, embarrassed him.  Jonah was upset that his prophecy had not happened.   It may result from desiring something and God not doing what we wanted, at least not like we wanted it done.

Jonah went to sulk, and God supernaturally grew a plant to shade him.   Then, to add insult to injury, God sent a worm and killed the plant.  Jonah became furious.  God asked, “Jonah, do you have good reason to be angry about the plant?” Jonah said, “You bet I do.  I have reason to be angry, even if it kills me.”

God used that as an object lesson to expose the root of his anger. 

Jonah 9:10-11 He laid it all out.  Jonah had compassion on a plant he had no investment in but not a city filled with people over 120,000 who were innocent.   God asked, “If the plant deserved compassion, shouldn’t people as well?”  In that, he was bringing Jonah to face the reality that his anger was because he didn’t get what he wanted when he wanted it and how he wanted it. 

We cling to our disappointments and let seething anger bubble beneath the surface.   If we realize that anger, hurt, pain, disappointment, and perpetual sorrow of the heart can be signs of latent anger toward God, we discover the doorway to freedom. 

God Never fails! His ways are higher than ours; sometimes, He acts or doesn’t act.  He knows what we don’t know.  He sees what we can’t see.  If we truly trust Him, rather than becoming angry, we would rejoice, knowing that even when we don’t know and can’t see, He is doing it for the overall good.

I frequently ask myself if there is any hidden anger in my heart toward God.  Are the disappointments roots of hidden bitterness?  Does the past bind me, or am I free to be who He has designed?  Do I truly trust Him, even when I disagree with Him?

My prayer for myself is, “Lord, purge all hidden or open anger from my heart.   Purge what I call disappointment but is anger from me.  Make me free to be who You called me to be.”  As Job said, “Even if You were to slay me, I will trust You.”

When all anger is gone, true freedom comes, new doors open, and new paths are revealed.   We get stuck because we hold on to hurts (anger).  Today is the day to become totally free.  This is for me, but embrace it if it resonates with you.

May the Lord be with you, enabling you to release any hidden anger and walk into His total freedom today!