2:39 – Angry, Upset, Broken, Confused. Forgiven

#faithbites #faithjourney upset

Intro

I described my feelings today as raw. Raw means I’m angry, upset, broken, and confused. It has been a crazy day and I think the next few will continue to be like that. Opinions are treated as fact. Science relegated to the back in favor of public opinion. Rules becoming optional. The truth turned into lies. A friend helped me see that some of these feelings are because I have a lack of control over my children’s welfare. It’s also been a day when sides are more drawn in the sand. When it’s if you don’t agree with me you are the enemy. I actually had someone, who I thought was a friend, snicker at me, turn, and walk away from me while I was trying to say hi. So yes, I am angry, upset, broken, and confused.
This may shock you, I may not be right. I admit I’m not educated enough or versed in some of these subjects to really contribute to right or wrong. I also know that I’m a very black and white person when it comes to rules. There is very little grey. This is something I know and get. It is something that I’m trying to understand about myself. It is also something that I try to turn to God.

Here’s the thing: I’ve never been in control, God has and will remain in control. I have shown my anger and frustration and I have apologized. This isn’t the way to show God’s love. My saving grace is God’s Grace through the forgiveness of Christ Jesus. I don’t have much energy to fight and realize that It’s time, actually, it was before, just to turn it over to God.

Questions

• What makes you angry, upset, broken, and confused?
• How do you express those feelings?
• WHen you are feeling like that, how to you come back from it?
• What tipes or tricks do you have to exprience these emotions but not let them ruin relationships?

Scripture

• Ecclesiastes 7:9 – Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
• Proverbs 25:28 – A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
• John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Reflection

People breaking rules is not new. We’ve done it since the Garden of Eden days. A simple rule of don’t eat the fruit was too much. Then we broke God’s commandments and the Jewish Laws. God gave us Jesus as he knew we couldn’t help ourselves from breaking laws but needed forgiveness and redemption. I know I’m raw, angry, and upset. I don’t want to be a fool or like a city broken without walls. That is not me. Those who know my heart know I’m a loving, forgiving, and kind person. Far from perfect and loved by God. This feeling in my gut isn’t normal. I thank God for providing me with friends to help with this.

When we get upset, angry, raw, and feel broken, God gives us guidance and help. In 1 Corinthians he tells us that nothing we are experiencing is unique. People have and continue to experience it in different forms. God won’t let you be tempted beyond your ability and Jesus will forgive you. You will have a way to recover. I take solace in that. In John, Jesus tells us that he gives us peace and that our hearts should not be troubled or afraid. While my head understands this, my heart is struggling. I know this is when we turn it over to God and let him handle it.

As we close, we need to admit our feelings and our brokenness. We also have to admit that we are far from perfect and we may not always be right. We shouldn’t delight in others’ failings or misfortune. This is the time when we need to pray continually, love one another, submit to our authorities, and seek Jesus’s forgiveness. In the end, no matter our faults, when we confess our sins, we are forgiven!

Prayer

Lord God, tonight we pray for compassion, healing, and care. Many of us are feeling angry, upset, raw, and broken. We feel out of control and do whatever we can, from lashing out to breaking rules, to have a feeling of some control. Lord, we are wrong and sorry. Help us to understand your plan. Help us to heal divisions so that we can multiply our successes. You don’t want your people divided, that is the want of the devil.

Lord, Control is your area of expertise and not ours. We pray that you comfort us, help us understand right and wrong, and when we mess up, please forgive all of our sins. We pray all of this in your heavenly name, Amen.