“Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly? No! You plot injustice in your hearts.”
PSALM 58:1-2

Stages of Grief: Anger Ps 58

Many people are accustomed to thinking of anger as a bad thing, something to suppress, hide, or get over. But when we are faced with injustice, loss, or suffering, anger is an appropriate emotional response! It is a normal part of the grieving process.

Jesus was angry with the Pharisees for their lack of concern and care for a man with a deformed hand (Mark 3:1-6). His anger was the appropriate response to religious leaders who, instead of caring for the needs of the people, attempted to use the suffering of others for their own advantage.

In Psalm 58, David’s song calls unjust rulers “deadly snakes” (58:4) who squeeze the life out of innocent people with their violence. In his anger toward them, David prays for God to “break off their fangs” (58:6) and to swiftly “sweep them away” (58:9).

In whatever loss or injustice you are facing, you will feel anger. That’s okay! You might be angry with God for not preventing something from happening or for not healing you. You might feel angry with another person who caused your suffering. You might feel angry with yourself for making a mistake or not being strong enough. Anger with God, others, or yourself is not a lack of faith. It is simply part of the process of grief—an important and helpful part of the process. At its core, anger is energy to solve a problem.

When Jesus was angry in Mark 3, he healed the man with the deformed hand. As you face the anger you feel regarding the loss and injustice in your life, ask Jesus to help and guide you toward right ways to express your anger and respond to the injustice that you face.