Why is God allowed to be angry but I’m not?

Anger isn’t always bad, God gets angry too. Becky Peacock invites parents to model a righteous and controlled anger that restores, not damages, and help children handle their feelings in a godly way

Last week we had our church family round for dinner. The house was bustling with adults and kids happily chatting, eating, laughing and playing. In an attempt to find enough plates for everyone we had to use the special plates that rarely come out of the cupboard. And inevitably one of the children dropped one of the plates in one of the doorways, causing it to shatter right where everyone was barefoot. In that split second I could choose compassion or frustration, anger or patience. We tend to view anger as a negative emotion in contrast to compassion, patience and love. It’s sometimes even seen as sinful. If that is true, then why is God angry?

Scripture shows us a God who expresses anger and frustration in a righteous way

God created us with a whole range of feelings which we all experience in wonderfully messy ways. We can help our children to embrace their emotions rather than suppress them, and to manage them in a godly way. Scripture shows us a God who expresses anger and frustration in a righteous way. I think my smashed plate scenario can help us understand the difference.

The reaction

I wonder how you react to a smashed plate situation. So often our anger is expressed ……