People have different reasons for why they may see God as an imposing, angry figure. They may have been told untruths about God in a spiritually abusive environment. They may misunderstand who God is or what His true character is. They may have an earthly father who is imposing or angry and have superimposed that idea onto their Heavenly Father.
We recognize that the reasons some may feel that God is angry and out to get them are varied, layered, and complex. Those feelings are valid feelings, and we get that it can be hard to work through those perceptions. We also want to encourage and assure you that God is not vindictive or angry toward His children. In fact, He loves you enough to die for you. The Bible tells us that the love God offers goes on forever (Jeremiah 31:3).
Friend, if you've been told or have come to believe that God is an imposing and angry being, please know that He is the opposite of hatred—God is love (1 John 4:8). Love is at the core of God's being. God is the source of all love. Without Him, there would be no love in the world at all. His being represents true, pure love.
God's love is not only unending, it is also unconditional, which means that He loves you no matter what. He has enough love for all of His creation—including YOU. He will never get tired of you, abandon you, or stop loving you (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). When visions of an imposing and angry God come to mind, remind yourself of the truth: God is love and His love is generous (1 John 4:7-21).
For those who believe in Jesus, God’s anger toward our sin has been erased by Jesus' sacrifice on their behalf (John 3:16-17). When we accept God's gift of salvation from the punishment for sin, God sees us as innocent as Jesus, for He took our place of guilt and made it possible to be forgiven (Philippians 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 1:12).
When God is angry, His anger is directed toward wickedness and sin (Proverbs 6:16-19; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 59:2). Psalm 7:11 says, "God is angry with the wicked every day..." Think about when a friend or younger sibling does something that hurts them. You may get "mad" at them, but it's more that you're angry that they got hurt. God's anger is always righteous and always aimed at the right place (Romans 12:17-21).
The Bible says that those who seek God will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). God is gentle yet just (Psalm 89:14). He does not get irrationally angry like humans tend to do (Proverbs 19:11; James 1:19-20). He will never misunderstand your intentions or your heart (Hebrews 4:15). We can trust Him with our insecurities because He loves us so very much (Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Peter 5:7). No matter what your past experiences with fathers or authority figures, be encouraged that God is a loving, caring, and merciful Father who loves us unconditionally.
The reasons some may feel that God is angry and out to get them are varied, layered, and complex. We get that it can be hard to work through those perceptions. We also want to encourage and assure you that God is not vindictive or angry toward His children. The love God offers goes on forever (Jeremiah 31:3). He is the opposite of hatred—God is love (1 John 4:8). When God is angry, His anger is directed toward wickedness and sin (Proverbs 6:16-19; Proverbs 15:3; Isaiah 59:2). God's anger is always righteous and always aimed at the right place (Romans 12:17-21). He does not get irrationally angry like humans tend to (Proverbs 19:11; James 1:19-20). He will never misunderstand your intentions or your heart (Hebrews 4:15). We can trust Him with our insecurities because He loves us so very much (Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Peter 5:7).
Vivian loves learning, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She is dedicated to helping people learn more about Jesus and is ready to help in any way she can. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, cooking, drawing, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, you can find her soaking up the sunshine or going on an adventure.
Cat is the web producer and editor of 412teens.org. She is known as "412teens" on the 412teens Discord. She loves audiobooks, feeding the people she cares about, and using Christmas lights to illuminate a room. When Catiana is not cooking, gardening, or practicing creativity, she enjoys spending time with her two kids, five socially-awkward cats, and her amazing friend-amily.
