Only lashing out…
It is not uncommon for people to go through some hard times in their lives—whether it is from the death of child, difficulty resisting temptation, a mental illness, or even just a Monday morning, we all have troubles. I have seen many people respond that because something bad has happened to them they should stop believing that there is a loving God who wants the best for them. They reject God’s teachings.
Whenever I see this I am reminded of people in relationships such as a marriage, a parent and teenager or even close friends. When one person feels vulnerable, confused, alone or hurt, some terrible things can be said. It is illogical that we would be so callous to one of the people who is the most dedicated to us in the world—one of the few who actually cares very deeply about us personally and will love us unconditionally.
Unfortunately, it seems to be human nature to take out our aggressions and make external all of our negative feelings and unleash them upon this person who loves us so much. Perhaps, this is not entirely self-defeating… I have a theory that our sub-conscious minds select the people to be the recipients of our grief who are able to take it on and still love us for who we are because of who they are. Are we, perhaps, able to know who can absorb our anger and turn it into love, and therefore, feel safe lashing out at this person this way?
I have a feeling that many people are doing the same things when they turn away from God. The comments that a just God cannot exist if such a tragedy should befall them, are hurtful to God and akin to the teenager daughter telling her mother she hates her, or of the husband frustrated at not getting a promotion at work berating his wife, or even the woman who was just dumped by her boyfriend and starts an argument with her best friend. Every time we question His authority, whether or not He is working our lives, or why He has done what he has, we are lashing out at God.
Why do we lash out at God? Why do we lash out at the one who loves us the most?
NOTE: Although the saying “lashing out at the one who loves us the most” has been heard before, it was hearing it in a song by Rich Mullins, who was a wonderfully talented Christian musician, that first inspired this post.
I agree that we tend to lash out at the ones we care about the most and I also agree that it is that unconditional love that allows us to be so forthright with one another. However, I know that often we are warned to watch our double edged swords and the words that we choose to use with one another. I, too, have been through much within my lifetime and often at very early ages, and there was a time that I blamed God. I have grown so much in my faith as I have journeyed closer to thee. I see my wrongs and know that I love a God who always loves me, no matter how far from Him that I may have strayed. Then I come crawling back on my weak, scraped knees and He takes me in his loving arms. thank you God.