Am I allowed to be frustrated with God?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

It is natural to feel frustrated with God when we do not understand our circumstances, but we should not let that frustration turn into distrust. Biblical examples like Moses, Elijah, Job, Jonah, and Martha show that even godly people have expressed frustration toward God; however, they were challenged to see their circumstances from God’s perspective. Rather than allowing frustration to consume us, we are called to trust in God's wisdom and power, knowing that He can work all things for good (Romans 8:28). The Bible encourages us to rely on God's strength, even when His plan is unclear, just as Joseph, Job, and Paul did in times of hardship. Instead of resisting His will, we should rest in His sufficiency, believing that His grace and purpose will ultimately prevail (2 Corinthians 12:9).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Even if we are too frustrated with God to see it in the moment, He is able to make the most tragic of life's situations work together for His ultimate good. This was evident in Joseph’s life. Though his brothers (and others) wronged him deeply and caused him much heartache and suffering, God used his hardships to help others. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph tells his brothers: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
• After the Israelites complained about their perceived misfortunes and ignited God’s anger against them, Moses expresses his frustration to God, feeling distraught over the burden he feels weighing down upon him (Numbers 11:11-15). God responds to Moses’ with clear instructions for him to follow so that he will not bear his burden for the people of Israel by himself (Numbers 11:16-17).
• After evil Queen Jezebel threatens to murder Elijah, he flees into the wilderness. Frustrated, he asks God if he can die (1 Kings 19:4).
• Job suffered not as a result of wrongdoing, but due to reasons he could not understand. At times he expressed his frustration and desperation, like in Job 3:11: "Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?” However, despite Job’s plights, he chose to bless God: "Naked I came from my mother 's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
• We are called to trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6). When we do, we can let go of our frustrations, knowing that God is powerful enough to use whatever we are experiencing for His good purposes.
• Jonah was frustrated with God in Jonah 4 over something as minor as a vine of shade withering away and over something as significant as the repentant city of Nineveh being spared by God from His deadly judgment. God’s response to Jonah was, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" (Jonah 4:9). Using this question as a starting point, God challenges Jonah's frustration as something that fails to see the situation from His perspective.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In the New Testament, the account of Mary and Martha serves as a clear example of expressing frustration toward God. When Jesus visited their home, Mary listened to Jesus as He preached while she left her older sister, Martha, to prepare the home and meal. Martha grew frustrated at Mary for not helping and told Jesus, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me" (Luke 10:40). Jesus responded in a way that made it clear Mary’s choice to focus on Jesus was the right decision (Luke 10:41-42).
• Instead of being frustrated with God, we can trust in what Paul confirmed in Romans 8:28: "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Regardless of the tragedy, waiting period, or disappointment that comes our way, we can rest assured that God can use it for good.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Frustration often arises when our plans do not unfold as expected, leaving us questioning God's timing and purpose. A young couple struggling with infertility may feel deep frustration, wondering why God has not blessed them with children despite their prayers and faithfulness. Yet, many couples later testify that God used that season to strengthen their marriage, deepen their trust in Him, or even lead them to adopt a child in need of a loving home. Similarly, a person who works tirelessly for a promotion but is repeatedly overlooked may feel abandoned by God. However, in hindsight, he may see how staying in his current role prepared him for a better opportunity or shielded him from unforeseen hardships. The Bible reminds us that God's power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), meaning that when we surrender our frustrations to Him, He provides the strength and perspective we need. Instead of dwelling on what we cannot change, we should trust that God is writing a greater story, one that we may not fully understand yet but that is always for our ultimate good.

UNDERSTAND

• Frustration with God often comes from not understanding His plan.
• Even godly people in the Bible experienced frustration with God.
• Instead of letting frustration turn to distrust, we should trust His wisdom and purpose.

REFLECT

• When have you felt frustrated with God, and how did you respond to that frustration?
• How can trusting in God's character and purposes help you handle situations that don’t go as expected?
• What biblical example of frustration with God resonates most with you, and why?

ENGAGE

• Why do we sometimes struggle to see God's purpose in our hardships?
• How can we encourage one another to trust God when frustration tempts us to doubt Him?
• What lessons can we learn from biblical figures who expressed frustration but remained faithful?