By: Alex J. Nagem © March 15, 2025
Arms raised above my head, my face turned toward the sky, and I cried out that I was angry with God. He didn’t answer my prayers, novenas, or cries for help. What more does God want from me? How many more trials must one face? I’ve read stories of miraculous endings for those who prayed. Where is mine? I pray each day. Why are my cries for help ignored? Does this sound familiar? I read that I should praise God to avoid getting angry with him. As someone with dry humor, do I want to thank God for the loss of a job, depleting hard-earned savings while unemployed, or failing health? Humor aside, the reading of Romans 8 can provide some relief. “We know in everything God Works for the good of those who love him. These are the people God chose because that was his plan. God knew them before he made the world. And He decided that they would be like his Son.” If we continue to pray as did Christ, be thankful for all that God has provided, and praise God as Christ, there will be a good outcome in all we face. God, I hope so.
“Do you trust me?” I believe God asks this question to each of us. Do we trust God in all that we are to face? We know he will not lead us into temptations or harm, though this may come from our free will and poor judgment. He is with us with each step we take. When our daughters were very young, a storm knocked out the electric line to our home. Our daughters were frightened by the storm. The sudden darkness in the room escalated their fear. They walked with me to the laundry room, where I stored the flashlights. As they held my hands and arms, I smiled down at them and asked that they trust me as we walked through the dark rooms feeling our way. The darkness ended with only a couple of bumps on the leg from running into furniture. When we turned on the flashlights, laughter, and howls overcame the feeling of fear. It was a short distance to the laundry room from the living room in the dark. The girls walked with me because they trusted me. They knew that I was with them. Even after a few bumps to their little legs, they knew Mom and Dad would kiss them and make everything better. Even though we may be angry with God, it can be short-lived by trusting his judgment and plan for us. We should give praise to God for all we have. At least that thought provides comfort to the sufferings of the mind and body, much better than the feeling of anger.
When reading the life of saints, it appears they all suffered some affliction or illness, but remained trusting of God and his plans for them. In writing of her illness and suffering, St. Teresa of Ávila wrote, “Let me suffer or let me die.” Fr. John Harden, S.J. wrote of his suffering, “We love only to the degree that we are willing to suffer.” In the words of Padre Pio, “Anyone who wants to be a true Christian must mortify his flesh for no other reason than devotion to Jesus, who, for the love of us, mortified His entire body on the cross.” Saints teach that suffering is of better merit than preaching, writing, or even works of miracles. St. Faustina wrote, “You will save more souls through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone.” She also wrote, “If the angels were capable of envy, they would envy us for two things: one is the receiving of the Holy Communion, and the other is suffering.” So, maybe our anger with God should be short-lived for our sufferings.
Was it the teachings of Christ that brought you here or his suffering and death on the cross that brought you to his teachings? Do you ever feel our thoughts on faith are like driving a car? We may sit in the car and realize we forgot the key. So, we continue to sit, wondering why the car is not moving. (This sounds like the opening of a Samuel Beckett play.) The same is true for our religious behavior, we may sit in the pew but without a better understanding of the sacrifice, suffering, and humbleness of Christ, and the trust in God, our faith does not grow. We become angry when prayers and novenas are not answered, or in the manner we would like. We continue to sit, and wonder why our faith is not growing and become angry and discouraged. “Let them who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good,” (1 Peter 4:19). If we carry our crosses of suffering and not be angry with God, we share in the work of Christ. “My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be happy. When your faith is being tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be. Keep control of your anger. Anger does not help you live the way God wants. Eliminate everything evil in your lives, every kind of wrong you do. Be humble and accept God’s teaching that is instilled in your heart. This teaching can save you,” (James 1).
We are all waiting in the same car. Let not our sufferings turn to anger toward God as we wait for someone to give us the keys. Maybe we need to get out and walk. This may make it easier to carry our cross, together.
My prayers are recited with you in mind. I hope me and my family are remembered in yours.
“Vocatus Atque Non Vocatus, Deus Aderit”
Alex J. Nagem
November 19, 2016 Rev. March 15, 2025