The “unless” list
Some people are angry with God.
It’s one of the saddest things. Not because they’re bad people for being angry with God. But because of what they went through to get angry with God.
When someone is angry with God, it’s a sign of someone who is hurting.
Someone who is angry with God needs our love and understanding. Because something terrible has happened in their lives. Whether it’s death or divorce, illness or financial loss, whatever it was hurt them. Deeply.
No matter how solid you and I think our faith is, we can set ourselves up to be angry with God. All it takes is an “unless list.”
You see it in the Gospel. Thomas doubts the Resurrection, then launches into his “unless” list.
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands. Unless I put my finger into the nailmarks. Unless I put my hand into his side. I will not believe.”
Translation – “Unless it happens my way. Unless I get everything I want. Unless it meets my expectations.”
Thomas is setting himself up to be angry with God. Just like you and I do. Whenever we have an “unless” list.
The only difference between Thomas and us? Thomas is open about his “unless” list. You and I aren’t open about it. Usually, you and I don’t even tell ourselves about our “unless” list.
Instead, we make assumptions about how things have to be. Then pour concrete around them.
And get angry when the world doesn’t conform to our unspoken “unless” list.
Think about it. We cut off friends and family who treat us like that. We quit jobs when we have bosses like that. That’s how miserable it is to have someone angry at us because we didn’t check the boxes on their secret “unless” list.
The only thing more miserable than being around someone with a secret “unless” list? Being someone with a secret “unless” list.
It’s a sure-fire way to ruin any relationship. Including your relationship with God.
Putting an “unless” list into your relationship with God – telling God how things have to be, putting human limitations on the Almighty – is a recipe to be angry with God. Because God doesn’t always do things our way.
God always provides. But sometimes, instead of delivering us from the problem like we want, God gives us the strength to get through the problem.
God wants to bless us. But sometimes we miss the blessing, because God didn’t do it our way.
God has nothing but the best in His heart for us. But we miss out on God’s best, every time we insist on the list.
It’s time to throw some things out. Starting with our “unless” list.
Today’s Readings
