Pissed at God

I've just finished reading the short book, How to Pray When You're Pissed at God (or anyone else for that matter) by Ian Punnett.

It's not what I would call a great book. But it is a good book. And while I think he overstates the scientific and psychological aspects of his claims, I don't disagree with him. It is perfectly acceptable to be pissed with God - biblical even.

I may not think it a great book (it's more of a devotional book, and I don't usually like devotional books), but I really like the following:

AN ANGRY PRAYER FOR A VICTIM OF LIES

Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause
against those who are spreading rumors about me;
rescue me from the deceitful and the wicked
who are strangling me with their lies.
i cry to you that I might be understood;
I ask you to bridge the gap between who you know I am
and what people are saying about me.
Please bring me home.

Those who were once my friends are content to make me miserable,
and you, O God, seem content to let this happen!
You are God, my stronghold. Will you reject me too?
Must I endure this oppression alone?

Send forth your light and your truth;
let them guide me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell,
so that I may feel that somebody understands me.
Tell me the words to say
to cut through the walls of lies that are imprisoning me.
Then will I go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight,
I will praise you with music,
O God, my God.

I tell my lonely soul, put your hope in the light and the truth of the Lord!
For I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Amen.  (Punnett 79)


Punnet, Ian How To Pray when You're Pissed at God. New York, NY: Crown Publishing Group, 2013. Print.