Resolving Spiritual Struggle of Anger Toward God: Christian Counseling Approaches

Abstract

Anger toward God is the one of common spiritual struggles among Christian clients. Specifically, clients who experience traumatic events such as car accidents, sudden death of loved ones, or natural disasters of natures may feel anger at God. At that time, an existential question such as “Why me?” will be occurred with anger, confusion, or feeling of abandonment. However, clients may deny or repress it because they fear God’s punishment, feel guilty about their lack of faith. Denying or repressing it will leave them with unresolved anger at God. Unresolved anger toward God is the most harmful factor of destructing one’s relationship with God that can lead to ‘emotional atheism.’ Therefore, dealing with unresolved anger toward God is an important matter for recovery of their relationship with God. To provide effective interventions for resolving anger toward God, biblical understanding of anger, causes and consequences of anger at God are explained frist. Examples of biblical characters who honestly expressed feeling of abandonment or anger to God provide good insights to encouraging clients to openly process and cry out to God. Counseling techniques of exploring the anger, and rebuilding trust in and intimacy with God can help clients to experience spiritual growth like Job (Job 42:5).